Developer unveils plan for Kramat Jati market

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Administration unveiled its plan yesterday to renovate the notoriously dirty Kramat Jati market in East Jakarta into what it billed as Southeast Asia's largest fruit and vegetable distribution center.

And, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja hoped, it will be clean.

"I think it's time for Jakarta to have a big, nice, clean market," Surjadi told The Jakarta Post after attending a presentation of the plan by PT Tritunggal Sentra Sejahtera, the private company which won the Rp 156 billion (US$60 million) contract.

"Jakarta is becoming a service-oriented city. It is a shame if we don't have a decent market," he said.

Surjadi said the most important issue was not how large or luxurious the market would be, but how people, especially vendors, could keep the market clean, and get used to more sophisticated facilities.

"I hope the project will bring prosperity to vendors, and become a model for every market renovation in Jakarta," he said.

Kramat Jati has not been renovated since it opened in 1973. The market currently pools vendors and distributors from Pasar Senen and Pasar Manggarai.

The lack of a proper drainage system, liquid waste disposal and clean water facilities have reduced the market to its present sorry state.

Built originally to ease congestion in the city, the Kramat Jati area has become infamous for its chaotic traffic with trucks, cars and buses entering and leaving the market without paying any great heed to traffic rules.

The market produces 300 cubic meters of garbage every day.

Tritungal said in its presentation that 70 percent of the market's physical structure had been damaged.

Almost 2,000 vendors and 700 laborers operate in the market, in addition to more than 1,000 scavengers eking out a living.

The renovation work is scheduled to start in October and should be completed in 18 months.

Tritungal will build make-shift stalls to the left and right of the present structure to accommodate existing vendors.

When complete the market will cover 14.7 hectares with the main market building being on two floors.

The first will be divided into four zones: two for fruit and vegetable wholesalers, and two for fruit and tuber sellers.

The second will be set aside for other facilities such as telecommunications and banking services and an import-export office.

A warehouse and cold storage facility will be built to the north of the main building.

Under the agreement, Tritunggal holds 77 percent of the shares in the project and the administration the rest.

Tritunggal production chief Yan Martin guaranteed comfort in the new market.

"We will design the building in a way that will make it easy for shoppers, vendors and vehicles to move around," he said.

A public transportation terminal would be built within the market complex and a huge parking lot would also be built for shoppers and traders, he said.

There will also be places for relaxation, Martin added. (07)