Batavia to be given face-lift

Batavia to be given face-lift

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Old Batavia Revitalization Program kicked off in downtown
Kota, West Jakarta, on Sunday in the hope of turning around the
crumbling area.

The launch ceremony was marked by the signing of a memorandum
of understanding between representatives of the Jakarta Old Town-
Kotaku (JOK) community group and a number of companies that have
committed to help develop the area.

The event, held at the original Bank Indonesia building
adjacent to the Kota railway station, was highlighted by the
launch of several wooden boats on the Kali Besar River and arts
performances, including by the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and a
barongsai dance troupe.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said the city
administration would improve the infrastructure in the area to
turn Kota into a top tourist destination.

"Support from so many different parties in developing the area
has encouraged the administration to work seriously on this
issue," he said.

Included in the administration's plans are rerouting traffic
away from Kota and revising the city's spatial plan for the area.

"We know the traffic jams are a serious barrier to turning
Jakarta into an attractive tourist destination," the deputy
governor said.

Kota is notorious for its poorly maintained historic
buildings, nightmare traffic, recurrent flooding, parking
problems, ubiquitous street vendors and polluted rivers.

JOK chairwoman Miranda Swaray Goeltom, who is also the senior
deputy governor of Bank Indonesia, said the revitalization of
Kota was a long-term effort and more parties were needed to get
involved in the program.

The event was also attended by Bank Indonesia Governor
Burhanuddin Abdullah, PT Pos Indonesia president director Ali
Nafia, PT Kereta Api Indonesia president director Oemar Berto and
Tarumanegara University Rector Dali Santunaga.