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