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)