Glodok raised walkway to be demolished

JAKARTA (JP): The Glodok elevated walkway, once home to dozens of shops above Jl. Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk in West Jakarta, will be demolished later this month as it was seriously damaged when burned during the May 13 to May 15 riots, an official said yesterday.

Sudrajat, the head of the city's building control agency, said that maintaining the facility in its current condition was too dangerous, especially for people passing under the structure, as it could collapse at anytime.

"The building was damaged during the six-hour blaze so that it is very dangerous for pedestrians and motorists passing underneath," he said.

The walkway, which is part of the Glodok electronics market in the city's China town, is one of the 13 damaged markets owned by city-owned market management PD Pasar Jaya. Losses from the damaged markets have been estimated at about Rp 56 billion (US$3.8 million).

Six of the 13 affected markets were either partly or totally burned during the riots. They are Palmerah and Cempaka Putih markets in Central Jakarta; Perniagaan and Glodok in West Jakarta; and Cipete and Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta.

The seven other markets were destroyed by angry mobs but not burned.

The 60-meter-long and 24-meter-wide elevated walkway, used to accommodate 100 electronics traders.

Sudrajat said the administration intended to rebuild the facility, "but it depends on our financial situation."

He said that the demolition work would be done by PT Bina Citra Tataswati, owned by businessman Supandi who has managed the bridge for two years.

Preparations for the demolition started yesterday as officials prevented sidewalk vendors and parking attendants from operating under the building, he said.

Sudrajat also said that during the demolition work Jl. Hayam Wuruk would be closed on July 10 and July 11, while Jl. Gajah Mada would be closed on July 12 and July 13.

Pasar Jaya spokesman Lihardin Sipayung said that Glodok and four other damaged markets would not be totally demolished because a team, which was established last month to check the construction of facilities, recommended that they could be renovated.

The team recommended that Glodok, Perniagaan, Pasar Minggu, Palmerah and Cipete markets could be renovated.

Sipayung said the reconstruction of the five markets was expected to start next month. (ind)