Residents Complain About MRT Lebak Bulus Depot Parking Encroaching on Roadway

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Residents are complaining about the parking area in the MRT Lebak Bulus Depot vicinity, South Jakarta, which is suspected of encroaching on the roadway, thereby disrupting passing vehicles. “Parking that takes up half the road definitely makes it narrow and can even cause accidents due to the tightness, especially during rush hours,” said volunteer Rafli Zulkarnaen when contacted in Jakarta on Monday. The man, familiarly known as Ijoel, stated that his group has received numerous complaints from nearby residents as well as those passing the parking area. Moreover, he continued, the location features a “P” (parking) sign indicating that the area is permitted for parking. “According to the local community organisation, that road belongs to the ‘Community Self-Reliance’, but it is an asset owned by the regional government according to information from the Transportation Agency and the Jakarta One Map Channel,” he said. Therefore, Ijoel regrets the parking activity at the location, considering that when the MRT first began operations, there was no parking lot in that area. “The MRT Lebak Bulus Depot, in the early days of the MRT, there wasn’t anything like this,” he said. Based on observations at the site at 11:00 WIB, the outdoor parking at Poins Square Lebak Bulus mall was seen to be neatly arranged and guarded by officers in blue vests. Traffic flow appeared light, given it was still working hours. Although the road does look narrow, a number of motorbikes and cars could pass in both directions. There is a parking sign and a poster notifying visitors that the parking area opens at 06:00 WIB and closes at 00:00 WIB. Visitors are reminded to double-lock their motorbikes as any damage or loss is not the responsibility of the parking management.