Senen bus terminal project not priority: Councillors<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The construction of a new bus terminal on the
\nsite of the existing Planet Senen youth center in Central Jakarta
\nremains a long-term plan, a city councilor said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Secretary of City Council Commission D for development affairs
\nBimo Hastoro said the plan was being discussed by councilors and
\nthe relevant city agencies, including the City Planning Agency.<\/p>\n
\"The zoning plan for the Senen area, which mostly accommodates
\ntransportation termini and commercial centers in Central Jakarta,
\nstill needs several adjustments in order not to adversely affect
\nnearby districts,\" Bimo said.<\/p>\n
He was responding to an earlier statement by Central Jakarta
\nMayor Andi S. Abdullah, who said a two-level terminal, similar to
\nthe existing one in Blok M, South Jakarta, would be built on the
\n2.3-hectare plot where Planet Senen stands as part of an attempt
\nto reduce traffic in the bustling Senen area.<\/p>\n
The project, which would cost about Rp 100 billion, was
\nexpected to begin this year, while the current bus terminal would
\nbe converted into a commercial center.<\/p>\n
Andi said that Planet Senen would be relocated to Kemayoran
\nbecause the Senen area was no longer suitable as a place for
\nyouths to congregate.<\/p>\n
Bimo said that the basic planning policy for the Senen area
\nhad so far been focused on the development of commercial areas,
\nlike the Pasar Senen market complex and Atrium mall, which
\nsupported adjacent residential areas such as Cempaka Putih and
\nMenteng.<\/p>\n
He insisted that the current problem of traffic congestion
\nresulting from the location of a bus terminal and train station
\nin the area had been temporarily reduced by the overpass
\nconnecting Jl. Kramat Raya and Jl. Pasar Senen.<\/p>\n
\"I guess the relocation plan should only begin in 2002 at the
\nearliest,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that given the uncertainty concerning the plan to
\nrelocate the existing Planet Senen, the present bus terminal
\nmight simply need to be expanded or have its current layout
\nreconfigured.<\/p>\n
Another councilor, Tjuk Sudono, also dismissed the need for
\nconstructing a new bus terminal in Senen in the near future.<\/p>\n
The 2001 city budget provided only Rp 500 million for the
\nerection of new traffic signs at the Senen bus terminal,
\naccording to Tjuk.<\/p>\n
\"We are discussing the best solution for the bus terminal,\"
\nsaid Tjuk.<\/p>\n
He added that instead of allocating funds to build a new
\nterminal, the current city budget earmarked Rp 32.2 billion
\nsolely for bus terminal improvements, with most of the money
\ngoing on the acquisition of land for the planned Pulogebang bus
\nterminal which is to replace the overcrowded Pulogadung terminal
\nin East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The existing Senen bus terminal stands on a 900-square-meter
\nsite, 600 square meters of which is used for the parking of buses
\nwhile the remainder is used for terminal offices and public
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
The terminal is designed to accommodate only 500 vehicles, but
\nsome 1,100 buses and minivans operate out of the terminal daily.<\/p>\n
Besides unlicensed vendors, many beggars, car cleaners, street
\nmusicians and vagrants also throng the terminal. Makeshift kiosks
\nare found on every sidewalk, while buskers mingle with
\npassengers. Pickpocketing is rife. (07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/senen-bus-terminal-project-not-priority-councillors-1447893297",
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