A change in focus of city development urged
JAKARTA (JP): The deputy head of the Land Transportation Agency, Dimmy Kirbrandiman, suggested on Friday the next administration consider developing the capital around railway stations.
Dimmy said building the city around railway stations would make maximum use of trains and help ease traffic congestion.
"Today, office complexes and apartments pack the city's main roads and thoroughfares. The administration has always been oriented toward the city's main roads," Dimmy said at City Hall.
Dimmy said the result of this was vacant railway stations and congested toll roads.
"If the administration continues building along the central roads, thoroughfares like Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin will never be clear of traffic. It's also impossible for the administration to keep on extending the roads in the capital."
Dimmy cited the example of Pesing railway station in West Jakarta, which is some 200 meters from the bustling business district of Daan Mogot.
"That station is not surrounded by any activity... it's like a village. The station, therefore, is useless."
Another railway station which is underutilized is the Pondok Jati station in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, according to Dimmy.
"Pondok Jati is surrounded by slums. A low-cost apartment block in the area, like the Tanah Abang apartments in Central Jakarta, would help local residents with their transportation," Dimmy said.
According to data from the State Railway Company, there are 90 stations in Greater Jakarta, of which at least 75 are constantly active.
Some of the busier stations are Kota in West Jakarta; Cikini and Gambir in Central Jakarta; and Lenteng Agung, Pasar Minggu, Tebet and Manggarai in South Jakarta.
Dimmy said that to base development on the location of railway stations, the administration should promote the construction of office complexes in areas like Sawah Besar in Central Jakarta and Mangga Dua and Mangga Besar in West Jakarta.
"People would then use the Kota station more often," he said. (ylt)