Traffic chaos worsens<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Motorists and pedestrians passing down the
\nperennially crowded streets of Jatinegara and Tanah Abang must
\nremain patient for a bit longer because the local authorities
\nhave decided to allow hoards of sidewalk vendors who block
\nstreets in the areas and cause traffic chaos to continue trading
\nuntil the Idul Fitri holidays.<\/p>\n
Huge numbers of street traders have set up shop around
\nJatinegara market in East Jakarta and Tanah Abang market in
\nCentral Jakarta, rendering nearby streets unpassable to
\npedestrians and motorists alike.<\/p>\n
The number of traders usually peaks during the fasting month
\nof Ramadhan ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday.<\/p>\n
Ignoring the problems caused to pedestrians and motorists, the
\nmayors of East an Central Jakarta, Andi Mappaganty and Andi Subur
\nAbdullah, said separately on Friday that they were unable to
\nforce vendors away from the sites and prevent them from making
\nmoney with which to celebrate Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
\"For as long as the streets are passable to buses, the vendors
\nwill be allowed to remain in the area,\" Mappaganty said.<\/p>\n
\"We've tried to relocate them to designated areas but they
\nalways move back to the roadsides. They say that sales are better
\non streets close to the big markets,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Andi Subur said: \"We should be flexible. If we force them to
\nmove and they can't sell their merchandise then it means that
\nwe're preventing them from taking advantage of a once-a-year
\nchance to boost their incomes.\"<\/p>\n
For years, street vendors at the two sites have caused chronic
\ntraffic jams.<\/p>\n
Motorists commonly spend an hour negotiating short stretches
\nof road past both markets which are partially blocked by trader's
\ntents, kiosks and mats.<\/p>\n
\"It's a usual scene here,\" said a Tanah Abang fruit vendor.
\n\"This area would loose its identity if there were no more traffic
\njams,\" he added. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/traffic-chaos-worsens-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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