City to demolish Tanah Abang market
Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta
The Jakarta administration is set to demolish at least four blocks of Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta, ordering city- owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya to find a location to accommodate thousands of traders during the market renovation.
Governor Sutiyoso revealed the plan on Thursday following a meeting with the Jakarta Construction Supervision and Regulation Agency (P2B) head Djumhana Tjakrawirja who recommended the reconstruction of the whole market to ensure the safety of traders and visitors.
"Technically, the old buildings can no longer be maintained as they are a danger to visitors and traders there," he told reporters at City Hall.
Djumhana said the decision was made based on a study completed by students of the school of civil engineering of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) on May 10.
The study revealed that the buildings could only last for two years more at the most.
"Moreover, the quality of the concrete used in the buildings was very poor," Djumhana cited the study.
A series of tests on the concrete columns of the market's Block C indicated that they bear a load of 400 kilograms per square centimeter (kg/cm), much higher than the actual capacity of 84.64 kg/cm.
The current standard for the quality of the concrete that should have been used in the construction of the market, built in 1971, is around 250 kg/cm.
Last year, fire gutted 2,420 kiosks from a total of 7,594 in the market. Block A and Block E were the most affected, with reconstruction still in process.
Previously, Prabowo said the renovation of Block B, C, D and F would take place after the construction of a new Block A -- a 16- floor shopping mall -- is completed in 2007.
However, just recently, the city administration revealed a plan for a complete facelift for Tanah Abang market -- the largest textile market in Southeast Asia -- to transform it into the most modern and luxurious market in Jakarta. Sutiyoso had instructed officials to conduct a comparative study in Hong Kong ahead of the planned reconstruction.
The administration also plans to relocate some 2,000 houses in the area surrounding the market that will be affected by the city's Rp 6 trillion (US$710 million) Sentra Primer Kota (urban primary center) project.
Sutiyoso said he would discuss the issue of relocating the traders with PD Pasar Jaya president director Prabowo Soenirman.
The company has appointed developer PT Priamanaya Djan International to carry out the first phase of the renovation of Block A, at an estimated cost of Rp 600 billion.
Traders, however, did not agree with the plan. They have even considered suing the market operator if they are moved from the market. They claim that they still hold valid licenses that allow them to stay until 2007, some until 2015.