Crowds flock to shopping centers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Roads to shopping centers were heavily jammed
\nover the weekend, a week before Idul Fitri which falls on
\nFebruary 9 and 10.<\/p>\n
Buses were packed with passengers heading for terminals on
\ntheir way home.<\/p>\n
In Block M, the route from Jl. Melawai to the crossroads of
\nJl. Iskandarsyah took 45 minutes and securing a parking space
\ntook up to 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
In Mangga Dua, a popular place for bargains, shoppers spent up
\nto two hours in traffic from Jl. Gunung Sahari to the U-turn near
\nthe shopping center.<\/p>\n
At least one motorist gave up and headed home.<\/p>\n
Taxis refused to take passengers to congested centers like the
\narea around the Ciledug market, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The Antara news agency quoted a number of shoppers who said
\nthe weekend offered a good time to go shopping as they had just
\nreceived their Idul Fitri bonuses. They had also just received
\nsalaries.<\/p>\n
Toha Reno, an official at the city's public order office, said
\nsecurity officials were spread throughout shopping centers in
\nJakarta, both uniformed and in civilian clothes. Toha reported no
\nproblems over the weekend and said so far the city was safe.<\/p>\n
The area around the Jatinegara market was also crowded.
\nTraffic crawled on Jl. Bekasi Timur and West Jatinegara.<\/p>\n
Sidewalk vendors congested traffic on Jl. Jatinegara Timur and
\nother parts of the city.<\/p>\n
The area around Pulo Gadung terminal, crowded with people
\nwaiting for buses, was also congested with rows of sidewalk
\nvendors. Buses had trouble entering the terminals due to the
\nnarrow space.<\/p>\n
Vendors took up nearly the entire road near the Jatinegara
\nstation. Kiosks selling clothes, jeans and other garments and
\ncakes were particularly crowded. Department store sales were also
\na major attraction.<\/p>\n
On Jl. R.S.Fatmawati, South Jakarta, traffic was also slow
\nowing to the large crowds of people preparing for Idul Fitri.
\n(anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/crowds-flock-to-shopping-centers-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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