Mayoralty to renovate Opak river bank area

Mayoralty to renovate Opak river bank area

JAKARTA (JP): The North Jakarta mayoralty is to start
developing sites along the Opak river into a shopping center and
office buildings, in an effort to enliven the area that was the
center of Jakarta during the 17th century.

Mayor Suprawito said yesterday that the project, which would
cover a total area of 8.9 hectares, includes the beautification
of the river. The initial step was the eviction of more than 170
families squatting on the riverbank in February. Construction is
due to begin in June.

"The river will be cleaned and an embankment built on a 500-
meter segment of the river. The roads will be repaired and
sidewalks constructed. The area will also have parks and adequate
street illumination," the mayor said.

The Opak river stretches from Malaka to Penjaringan
subdistricts. However only 500 meters of the river are to be
included in the 8.9 hectare development area.

Suprawito said that the project included the renovation of the
old fish auction center and the leaning tower in the fish port.

The project is the first stage of the mayor's plan to renovate
the Kota area.

The mayoralty estimates the total cost of the work will be Rp
8 billion (US$6.08 million). This does not include the
construction of the ten-story shopping center or the new office
buildings, which are to be offered to private investors,
Suprawito said.

The public money will come from the city budget

No investors have yet been invited to tender for the project
as the mayoralty wants to make more detailed plans of the
development before approaching anyone.

The whole project, including the works by investors, might
cost Rp 14 billion, he said.

The mayoralty plan aims to change the image of the area from a
slum to a thriving business and tourism location.

The traditional Sunda Kelapa harbor is attractive to tourists,
the mayor said, and added that the slum areas might be photogenic
to visitors.

"Last year the number of foreign tourists visiting Sunda
Kelapa harbor was 45,000, or 11,000 more than the previous year.
This means the area has a potential to be one of the city's main
attractions," he said.

Suprawito said the project was expected to be completed next
year. (yns)