Indonesia's biggest shopping mall being built in Pluit

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)