Monas park undergoes second stage of face-lift
Monas park undergoes second stage of face-lift
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration next week begin the
second stage of the National Monument (Monas) park facelift
project, with an estimated cost of about Rp 3 billion, Central
Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said.
Speaking to the media on Friday, the mayor said that in the
second stage, which would take about four months, the focus would
be on controlling the large number of vendors in the park,
installing benches, more toilets, rubbish bins, lights and signs.
"In the first two months, we will concentrate on relocating
the vendors and stopping people from parking their vehicles
everywhere," he said.
Andi Subur said the 200 registered vendors would be pooled in
a long shed to be built at the northern end of the former Taman
Ria recreational area on the south side of Monas.
A huge area next to the site has already been designated as a
car park.
He said the administration would begin on Monday to urge the
undisciplined vendors and motorists to move to the provided area.
"Starting from March, we'll take punitive action against those
who disobey the regulation. And from July, I hope Monas will be
already in order," Andi Subur said.
A team consisting of 10 officials from the prosecutor's
office, high court and city police would escort the
administrative staff to enforce the regulations, he said.
The first stage of the park renovations began in May last year
and was completed last month. Rp 1.5 billion was spent on
planting flowers, fixing roads and paths, and other things.
The project's aim is to reshape Monas to be the city's
landmark, a recreational park, as well a green area as stated in
its master plan drawn up in 1994.
Besides the traders, the presence of transvestites and
prostitutes is said to have ruined the image of the park, as many
can be seen offering their services to visitors and passing
motorists around the 80 hectare park.
The city authorities have been accused of never taking serious
action against the sex workers. (ind)