Planned Plaza Semanggi another traffic nightmare

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration is assessing the possible impact on traffic flow of a proposed shopping mall to be built near the Semanggi cloverleaf in Central Jakarta.

U. Pristono, head of the traffic division at the Jakarta Transportation Agency, said that the developer of Plaza Semanggi, submitted the traffic impact analysis (Andal) to the agency on June 10.

The analysis is being assessed by the city administration by the assistant for development affairs to the city secretary, involving three agencies -- the Jakarta Transportation Agency, the Jakarta Planning Agency, and the Jakarta Building Supervision Agency.

According to Pristono, all buildings that may potentially cause traffic problems in the surrounding areas are required to submit a traffic impact analysis.

Among the buildings built after a traffic impact analysis were Pondok Indah Mall in South Jakarta, Plaza Senayan in Central Jakarta, and Artha Graha building in South Jakarta.

This requirement is stipulated in a gubernatorial decree.

When asked why PT Primatama Nusa Indah was permitted to start the development of Plaza Semanggi before its traffic impact analysis is approved, Pristono refused to comment.

Assistant for development affairs to the city secretary Irzal Jamal said that he had summoned the head of the three agencies to discuss the development of Plaza Semanggi.

"We have listened to the explanation of each party, but so far no final conclusion has been reached about the traffic impact analysis," said Irzal, adding that the analysis would determine whether the shopping mall could be built there or not.

If the results of the analysis indicate it would cause traffic congestion, the shopping mall project should be halted, he said.

Irzal did not mention when the assessment would be completed.

Separately, urban planners rejected the development of a shopping center, stressing that it would worsen traffic jams in the surrounding area.

Chairman of the Indonesian Planners Association (IAP)'s Jakarta chapter Abdul Alim Salam said that crowded areas should not be developed as it would surely cause traffic jams.

He said in the case of the shopping center, which will be part of Plaza Semanggi formerly located at the Granada building on the corner of Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Gatot Subroto, resultant traffic jams would be unavoidable.

Another city planner Marco Kusumawijaya shared Alim's view.

"I don't think that there is a way to avoid worsening traffic flow problems on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Gatot Subroto if the shopping mall is built there."

The main facilities planned at Plaza Semanggi include a shopping center, office space and cinema complex. The project will cost some Rp 350 billion (US$40 million).