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)