More sidewalk construction planned

The City Parks Office plans to refurbish sidewalks along Jl. Sabang and Jl. Thamrin, one of the city's major thoroughfares, an official said on Thursday.

"We have submitted a proposal to the governor," Toni Arifin, the deputy head of the office, told The Jakarta Post after the closing ceremony of a one month long course on park design and landscaping at the office's nursery in Taman Langsat, South Jakarta.

Toni urged building owners along both roads to finance half of the project. However, owners of highrise office buildings on Jl. Thamrin are expected to contribute more.

According to Toni, the sidewalk refurbishment project on Jl. Kebon Sirih, which was coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications, cost a total of Rp 2.053 billion (US$ 1 million), with 46 percent of it financed by voluntary donations from highrise owners on the street. (arf)