TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Thahaja Purnama revealed that due to Jakarta's megapolitan concept, the city have a big responsibility to develop, yet the power to develop still remained in the partnering regions.

“The Megapolitan isn't like the concept in the era of Bang Yos (Former Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso) by taking any area by use of force, surely it will cause a conflict. Our obligation is not like that,” said Ahok at the City Hall on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara News.

Ahok also hoped that there is no boundary between Jakarta with the partnering regions such as Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.

“We intend to create a region without borders [...] Later on, from roads to rivers until the double-decker buses, all would be integrated. So who would take the responsibility for the development? well, the City of course. Remember that the power remains in the partnering regions. This is our plan for a megapolitan city,” he explained.

Ahok added that the city administration will give grant funds to other cities, which is to realize a megapolitan city concept. However, they first have to file for a proposal to the city government to resolve various issues associated with inter-regional matters. “Such as Tangerang City asked the Jakarta Administration for grant funds of Rp1.2 trillion for a Transjakarta fly-over project. It will be available as long as there is a Detailed Engineering Design (DED),” he uttered.

He continued giving example a number of inter-regional development that has been running, such as the road widening on Jalan Daan Mogot, the Mookevart River's road inspection, and the revitalization of Pondok Cabe Bus Terminal.

He acknowledged that most Jakartans who work in the capital currently living in partnering regions. "This is what we want to do, the construction of access road and road widening to Bekasi. It must be well-made,” he said.

Hence, according to Ahok, the city obligated to provide grant funds to some partnering regions that have limited fiscal in the solution of various problems that interrelates partnering regions.

ANTARA NEWS