BSD on City development

In response to Wildan's letter published in The Jakarta Post on June 23 under the title, BSD lacks vision, allow us to explain as follows:

We acknowledge that recently the management of Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) has been intensifying its construction activities, which will be followed by various changes. These rapid changes, however, do not alter the original concept of BSD as an independent city (not a park city as referred to in Wildan's letter).

Close observation of the BSD construction plan will show that BSD has prioritized the superblock concept, which allows a natural mixed use of economic activities in this area. The development of traditional and modern markets, for example, brings together sidewalk vendors, kiosks and shop-houses. The development of Golden Road superblock brings together ITC BSD, Carrefour, a gas station, showrooms, workshops, government offices and shopping centers.

The entire area designated for shop-houses, about which many BSD residents are often curious, measures only 15 hectares (ha), or only about 1.07 percent of a total 1,400 ha of land on which phase I of BSD development has been realized.

Unfortunately, in some places, these shop-houses gain prominence as they are located in the main area and are built on commercial plots of land which, during the economic crisis, were temporarily used for growing a variety of plants and trees. Meanwhile, the BSD master plan covers a total area of 6,000 ha, of which 1,520 ha will be designated for the development of an integrated business area.

It is predicted that the establishment of this business area will open up about 180,000 job opportunities. These business activities will be essential to ensure that the concept of BSD as an independent city can be realized. According to this master plan, residential areas will total 3,162 ha.

In addition, the construction of commercial superblocks is one of the ways to solve the problem of residential places being used for business purposes, following the growth of businesses. Converting residential places into business sites would lead to many urban problems such as slum development, traffic congestion, flooding, diseases brought about by lack of sanitation and the use of green areas for parking and sidewalk business purposes.

H. DHONY RAHAJOE
Head of Public Service Division
of BSD City