Crowds flock to shopping centers

JAKARTA (JP): Roads to shopping centers were heavily jammed over the weekend, a week before Idul Fitri which falls on February 9 and 10.

Buses were packed with passengers heading for terminals on their way home.

In Block M, the route from Jl. Melawai to the crossroads of Jl. Iskandarsyah took 45 minutes and securing a parking space took up to 30 minutes.

In Mangga Dua, a popular place for bargains, shoppers spent up to two hours in traffic from Jl. Gunung Sahari to the U-turn near the shopping center.

At least one motorist gave up and headed home.

Taxis refused to take passengers to congested centers like the area around the Ciledug market, South Jakarta.

The Antara news agency quoted a number of shoppers who said the weekend offered a good time to go shopping as they had just received their Idul Fitri bonuses. They had also just received salaries.

Toha Reno, an official at the city's public order office, said security officials were spread throughout shopping centers in Jakarta, both uniformed and in civilian clothes. Toha reported no problems over the weekend and said so far the city was safe.

The area around the Jatinegara market was also crowded. Traffic crawled on Jl. Bekasi Timur and West Jatinegara.

Sidewalk vendors congested traffic on Jl. Jatinegara Timur and other parts of the city.

The area around Pulo Gadung terminal, crowded with people waiting for buses, was also congested with rows of sidewalk vendors. Buses had trouble entering the terminals due to the narrow space.

Vendors took up nearly the entire road near the Jatinegara station. Kiosks selling clothes, jeans and other garments and cakes were particularly crowded. Department store sales were also a major attraction.

On Jl. R.S.Fatmawati, South Jakarta, traffic was also slow owing to the large crowds of people preparing for Idul Fitri. (anr)