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INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS - JAKARTA. Construction of the light rapid transit’s (LRT) Cawang section in East Jakarta will be temporarily halted while state-owned companies involved in the project improve coordination following gas leaks.
“The project will be halted for some time due to the incidents,” said Ki Syahgolang Permata, corporate secretary of state-owned construction firm PT Adhi Karya, the LRT’s developer. He did not elaborate on the time frame.
The statement was conveyed after a meeting between Adhi Karya and state gas company Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) on Thursday (15/3) held to discuss an incident on Wednesday in which a gas pipe operated by PGN leaked after it was reportedly hit by a backhoe used in the LRT project.
That was the second accident in the week, as on Monday the pipe, laid 1.5 meters below ground level, was accidentally drilled by LRT workers, causing a gas leak in front of the National Narcotics Agency’s (BNN) office.
Ki Syahgolang said Adhi Karya will improve field coordination with PGN to detect underground pipes at the LRT construction site.
PGN corporate secretary Rachmat Hutama said the company would deploy officers to the construction site to assist Adhi Karya during the project to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.
“We’re reviewing the ongoing project to see whether we shall relocate [the pipes] or conduct engineering operations,” Rachmat said in a statement.
“We want to make sure the LRT project as a national strategic plan can be developed on time so it can be used by residents,” he added. (Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
