`New' Monas coming next year

JAKARTA (JP): Head of the City Park Office Samsir Alam said that the first phase of renovations on Medan Merdeka park, a park surrounding the National Monument in Central Jakarta, will be completed next year.

"The renovation of the park is expected to be completed before the commemoration of Indonesia's 50th Independence Day on Aug. 17, 1995," Samsir said.

Samsir said that under the Rp 2.5 billion initial phase of the project, the monument's surrounding park will be enlarged and adorned with decorative plants.

"We will also build plazas inside the monument's fence," he said.

According to Samsir, the city has appointed PT Encona, a local landscape design consultant, to handle the design of the park.

The project, which is scheduled to start this month, will include the installation of artistic footpaths throughout the park.

Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais said recently that the construction of the whole project, which is estimated to cost Rp 380 billion (US$174million), will take four years to complete.

The head of City Public Works, Soeharto, said that his office will also participate in the park beautification since the project also includes the reconstruction of environmental roads. (03)