City to demolish Tanah Abang market
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.