Indonesia's biggest shopping mall being built in Pluit

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of North Jakarta will soon enjoy a new mega shopping mall called Mega Mall Pluit being built at a total cost of Rp 150 billion (US$68.7 million).

Sri Purwanto, a public relations officer of the company, said over the weekend that the shopping mall, designed to be the biggest of its kind in the country, is owned and being developed by PT Duta Wisata Loka.

He said that its construction was started in May and is expected to be completed by the end of 1995.

According to Sri, Mega Mall Pluit will cover a total area of 22 hectares consisting of 15 hectares of the mall complex and seven hectares for a man-made lake.

He said the main concept of the 5-story mall is a combination between the leisure of shopping and integrated family recreational spots.

"It will be adorned by a green promenade and be occupied by many major department stores, supermarkets, retailers, restaurants, an ice skating rink, a bowling alley, a cinema and other entertainment facilities," he said.

Peddy Wongsowidjojo, the company's president, said that the construction of the mall is aimed at fulfilling the shopping and entertainment demand of the people living in West and North Jakarta.

He said that more than 1.5 million people live within a five- kilometer radius of the mall and it is surrounded by more than forty upper income and middle income housing estates.

Darrundono, the head of the Pluit Environmental Management Board, said recently that the construction of the mall will help meet the needs of residents in the area, which is still lacking a major shopping and recreation center.

He said that many Pluit residents must go to other parts of the city to enjoy such facilities.

While Tjokropranolo, Jakarta's former governor and one of the company's commissioners, said that it will also improve Pluit's environment by cleaning up the lake, improving the site and establishing more green areas.

He said that the mall will employ around 3,000 people, adding that the developer will also widen the street and install more traffic signs to improve Pluit's traffic conditions.

The architecture of the mall is by Cadiz Design of Singapore which is owned by Cadiz Medardo, a Philippines born architect who designed Pondok Indah Mall and Citra Land Regency in South Jakarta.(03)