Jatinegara to have new parking lots

JAKARTA: East Jakarta's prime business district, Jatinegara, will soon have new parking lots to help ease chronic traffic jams on Jl. Jatinegara Barat and Jl. Jatinegara Timur, an official said on Monday.

"The idea comes from Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso. He wants us to offer private investors the opportunity to construct parking lots here," East Jakarta Mayor Koesnan Abdul Halim was quoted as saying by Tempointeraktif.com.

One the parking lots become operational, Koesnan said, the municipal administration would not allow motorists to park their cars on roads' shoulders.

So far, some areas have been suggested for parking space, including Rawa Bening gem stone market in front of Jatinegara railway station (about one hectare) and the Nusantara cinema theater (about three hectares).

He said that the plan was in accordance with the plan to renovate one of the oldest traditional markets in the capital. --JP.