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)