Construction of escalators at Blok M delayed due to protest

JAKARTA (JP): The objection of small-scale traders has thrown a wrench into the PD Pasar Jaya city market authority's approval of the construction of two escalators outside the Blok M market building in South Jakarta.

A shopping center official, who wanted to remain anonymous, said yesterday the postponement is aimed at soothing the small- scale traders who object to the construction of the escalators which will bypass their business sites inside the building and lead directly into the Matahari chain store on the second and third floors of the structure.

In the meantime, the authority plans to discusses the matter with the mayoralty, the city development supervision agency and the police.

PD Pasar Jaya upset the traders recently when it approved the construction plan that is to be financed by Matahari, a prominent retail department store chain, which has a branch outlet on the second and third floors of the building.

The traders believe that the new escalators will rob them of their customers because people will be able to ride them straight up to the department store.

The official said that the traders' anxiety was groundless because the authority's approval was based on various considerations, including the fact that the plan provides that escalator will only go up, not down, and will stop at the first floor, where the traders are.

The official also said that the authority had provided several new access entrances to the building's ground floor, which are expected to attract more visitors.

"We are fully aware of the traders' interests," the official said.

Although the construction will be financed by Matahari, the escalators will be put under PD Pasar Jaya's ownership, as soon as their construction is completed.

However, up to yesterday the traders were continuing to oppose the construction plan.

Last Friday, around 300 of them marched to the City Council to stage a second protest against the plan. They were received by the members of Commission B, which oversees trade affairs. The meeting failed to yield any positive results.

The traders later accused the councilors of ignoring their demands.

Friday's protest nearly developed into a fistfight when the traders overheard an unpleasant remark made by a councilor from the Armed Forces faction.

Terbit daily reported yesterday that the traders first registered their objection to any plan to install escalators three years ago.

The official said that the traders need to believe that the escalators will also benefit them. (03)