Monas park undergoes major renovations

Monas park undergoes major renovations

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is currently renovating
the National Monument (Monas) park to protect the monument from
the vibrations of passing vehicles.

Rusdi Yusuf, a City Development Planning Board official, said
yesterday that the square surrounding the monument will be
enlarged.

The roads encircling the monument will be moved 45 meters away
from where they are currently to reduce the negative traffic
effects, he said,

He said that the project, currently underway, is expected to
be completed by the end of 1997.

"The basic construction of roads in the southern and western
parts of the monument has already been completed," Rusdi said
after accompanying Governor Surjadi Soedirdja on an inspection on
the project.

The project is part of the city administration's plan to
beautify the Medan Merdeka park area and to control development
in the surrounding areas.

Various tree species have so far been planted in the park to
make the area more of a city "forest".

Underground parking lots to the south and west of the monument
are also in the works.

"No information is available as to when the construction of
the parking facilities will start. There is a possibility that
the facilities will be integrated with the upcoming subway system
passing the eastern part of the area," Rusdi said. (yns)