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.