Malioboro to revitalized

Malioboro to revitalized

YOGYAKARTA: The local administration plans to revamp the popular street, Jl. Malioboro, in 2004 as part of the city's program to rejuvenate the city.

Head of the city's planning and order agency Eko Suryo M. Hapsoro explained that in the initial stages, the program would relate to the vicinity of Jl. Malioboro, like Jl. Abubakar Ali and Jl. Pasar Kembang to the north of Malioboro, by providing more space for pedestrians on both streets.

"To achieve this we need initial funds of Rp 2.5 billion to Rp 4.6 billion," Eko said.

Danang Parikesit of Gadjah Mada University's center for logistical and transportation studies was of the opinion that the rearrangement was basically meant to make the city livable.

Unless something is done about it, Malioboro will become extremely congested in the future. If that is so, it could further damage Yogyakarta's status as a historical and cultural city, said Danang, reminding that Malioboro's reduced business and tourist attractiveness was due to the use of space not in accordance with spatial plans. --JP