City threatens to demolish Jasa Marga building

City threatens to demolish Jasa Marga building

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Governor Sutiyoso threatened toll operator PT Jasa Marga that
the city administration would demolish Wisma Singalaga, a
commercial building owned by the company, located beside former
Kebon Jeruk toll gate in West Jakarta, because the building was
built without a building permit.

"We have sent a warning letter to PT Jasa Marga about the
building. Should the company not take any action, the
administration will demolish it," Sutiyoso told reporters, after
speaking at a seminar on floods at Trisakti University in Grogol,
West Jakarta, on Wednesday.

He also warned that the license permit issued was only for a
temporary building.

"As a state-owned company, we expect PT Jasa Marga to give an
example to the public," he said.

Head of the department of city planning, Setiawan Kanani, said
the two-story building violated the city plan, as the lot should
not be converted into a commercial area.

Wisma Singalaga was built to support the Jakarta to Tangerang
toll road in 1989. However, in January this year, PT Jasa Marga
moved the toll gate to Karang Tengah, located 6.5 kilometers west
of Kebon Jeruk. However, Wisma Singalaga was maintained and
renovated to continue serving the Kebon Jeruk toll exit.

A part of the building has also been rented out to Standard
Chartered Bank.

PT Jasa Marga spokesman Satria Ganefanto, admitted the
building's construction was not completed with a building permit.

"The building and business permits of Wisma Singalaga are
still being processed," he said.

He strongly opposed the demolition threat.

"If the building is demolished, where should we move the
administrative office of Kebon Jeruk toll road," he said.