JAKARTA. State-owned developer PT Adhi Karya has offered to take over the Jakarta administration and continue the problematic monorail system construction, which is currently still under project operator PT Jakarta Monorail (JM).

Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said during a meeting with representatives of Adhi Karya on Tuesday that the company had offered to take over the monorail construction and use the erected steel pillars the company built several years ago.

Adhi Karya also offered to build new routes, such as from Cibubur in East Jakarta to Cawang in East Jakarta, Bekasi in West Java to Cawang and Cawang to Kuningan in South Jakarta.

“I’m grateful that Adhi Karya offered to take over the construction. However, learning from our previous mistakes, the cooperation contract will be much more detailed,” Ahok said on Tuesday, referring to the city’s unfinished business with JM.

Adhi Karya, which used to own 7.5 percent of JM, withdrew its bid to build Jakarta’s monorail in 2013, leaving JM as the sole bidder. Both companies worked together in the initial monorail project but it did not last as former Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo called off the project in 2011.

Ahok recently said the administration would send a letter to JM to cancel construction and cut off cooperation because he doubted JM’s ability to fund the construction.

He said his administration will include several specific clauses if they ink a new contract on monorail with Adhi Karya. Ahok says if the construction stops for any reason, the city would take over the project without having to pay Adhi Karya.

Adhi Karya, Ahok said, would also be responsible for operating the monorail system. He said the administration will take over the operation without paying anything if the company seeks to stop operating the monorail because it is not profitable.

“These clauses may sound difficult for Adhi Karya but they are necessary to make sure that the construction does not go into another limbo. We do not want to repeat our mistake,” Ahok said.

Separately, Deputy Governor for industry, trade and transportation Sutanto Soehodho said Adhi Karya also planned to build a monorail depot on the city’s land in Cibubur.

“We are waiting [for Adhi Karya to submit a proposal], so we will have a clearer vision of their plan,” Sutanto told reporters at City Hall.

Meanwhile, Adhi Karya president director Kiswo Dharmawan said that the requirements from Ahok “would not be a problem”. He went on that the firm would look into other modes of transportation, which would better suit the city.

We are currently still studying which mode of transportation that will suit the city. It can be monorail, LRT [light rail transit] or guided bus,” he said over the phone on Tuesday. (Dewanti A. Wardhani)

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie