New Plaza Semanggi mall project feared to worsen traffic jams
New Plaza Semanggi mall project feared to worsen traffic jams
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Councillors have slammed the Plaza Semanggi development near the
Semanggi cloverleaf in Central Jakarta, claiming it would only
worsen traffic congestion.
Toto Ismunandar, a member of the City Council's Commission D
for development affairs, regretted on Monday that the city
administration had not discussed the project with the council.
"We will ask the relevant agencies in the administration to
explain the project to us," said Toto, who is a councillor from
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).
Plaza Semanggi is being built at the corner of Jl. Gatot
Subroto and Jl. Sudirman, where the former Granadha building is
located. The existing building is being renovated while a
new shopping center, movie theaters, offices and other facilities
will be constructed.
Toto said that development would definitely worsen traffic
conditions on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Gatot Subroto, where traffic
jams usually occur during peak hours.
A similar view was voiced by Tjuk Sudono, a Commission D
member from the National Mandate Party (PAN), who said that
developments in such congested areas should take into account the
transportation impact.
Tjuk urged the city administration not to readily issue
permits for new development project without considering the
various aspects involved.
Governor Sutiyoso, however, said that the development of Plaza
Semanggi would not significantly affect traffic as the impact on
transportation had been taken into account.
"The development (of Plaza Semanggi) is still tolerable. We
have anticipated the traffic jams, but it is difficult to explain
it to you now," Sutiyoso told reporters.
Head of the City Planning Agency Setiawan Kanani said that the
renovation permit for the existing building was issued on
September 2001, and was valid for a 1.8 hectare site. Buildings
could be built on a total of 40 percent of the overall land area.
He also said that based on the 2001 spatial plan, the area
could be developed for office and commercial use. Kanani,
however, was unable to explain about traffic management plans for
the area.
The project is being undertaken by PT Primatama Nusa Indah
(PNI) and will cost Rp 350 billion (US$.40 million).
The Granadha building is owned by the Veteran Legion
Foundation.
The executive board of the Veteran Legion itself, however,
reportedly disagreed with the Plaza Semanggi development.