Formula E Circuit Covered With Bamboo, Deputy Governor Riza: It Strengthens

Jakarta Deputy Governor Riza Patria/DOK VOI-Diah Ayu

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria said that it is normal to embed bamboo on the bottom layer of the Formula E circuit. In fact, according to him, the bamboo layer actually strengthens the asphalt construction.

"That's common in civil engineering. Bamboo is what strengthens it. However, it's not that there are no stones. Only in certain layers," said Riza at DKI City Hall, Friday, February 11.

Riza explained that the use of bamboo is very useful for use in construction of watery soil such as riverbanks. Likewise for the land in the Ancol area which is a former mud disposal area.

"It's like in riverbank areas. Anyway, it's quite watery where it is, yes, for reinforcement. It's a simple thing and not something extraordinary," said Riza.

Previously, the person in charge of Formula E construction from PT Jaya Konstruksi, Ari Wibowo admitted that his party had installed pieces of bamboo under the surface of the soft ground in the construction of the Formula E race track.

"This bamboo is for a kind of raft. Why was bamboo chosen, because it is resistant to water and can be broken or flattened," Ari told reporters.

Ari admitted that his party did not use factory materials because there was not enough time to procure them in the midst of a fairly tight construction.

"It's a matter of time for us if we make factory ones such as long concrete. Manufacturing only takes time. So, we have to look for ready stock in large quantities," he said.

This has drawn criticism from the PDIP faction member of the DKI DPRD, Gilbert Simanjuntak. In fact, Anies, according to Gilbert, often predicts that Formula E is an environmentally friendly event, considering that Formula E racing cars are electric.

"Formula E is not a green race like the governor and committee boasted. They even sacrificed green areas for their political interests, because Formula E is thicker for the governor's political interests at the expense of people's money," said Gilbert some time ago.