Rp 14b renovation of HI traffic circle start

Rp 14b renovation of HI traffic circle start

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration has begun renovation of the Hotel
Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta, at an estimated
cost of Rp 14 billion (US$1.4 million).

It is also believed that the effort, which began on Monday,
will have the added benefit for authorities of hampering rallies
at the popular spot on Jl. MH Thamrin.

Fences were being set up around the circle on Monday night to
enhance the beauty of the site to offset the renovation, which is
supposed to be completed by June 22 "in accordance with the
city's anniversary," Head of the City Parks Agency Mauritz
Napitupulu told reporters.

Mauritz refused to say whether the re-construction of the
circle, which would be built in five degrees of declivity and
will always be wet due to its water fountain was, in fact, aimed
at preventing rallies at the spot.

"It's a political matter," he said in explaining his refusal
to comment. "But we would fix the sidewalks across the circle,
which could probably be used by the demonstrators."

The traffic circle has became a hot spot for rallies ever
since the downfall of former president Soeharto in 1998.

Mauritz argued that the five degrees of declivity aims to
prevent the water from accumulating outside the circle,
effectively turning the center of the fountain into a water pond.

The renovation, conducted by publicly listed contractor PT
Jaya Konstruksi that is controlled by businessman Ciputra, would
include the installment of 46 water pumps and 341 nozzles.

The water fountains will form a red-and-white configuration
which is inspired by the red-and-white national flag.

Mauritz said that the Rp 14 billion fund for the renovation
was secured from "the selling of 10 advertising spots" in 10
places in the city.

"It's not my agency which handled the sale of the advertising
spots. I have no details on the price of each spot," he added.

The advertising spots are located on Jl. MT. Haryono and Jl.
Pasar Rebo in East Jakarta; Jl. Rasuna Said and Jl. Kemang Raya,
in South Jakarta; Jl. Tomang Raya, Jl. Panjang and Jl. Arjuna in
West Jakarta, and Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Asia Afrika and Jl. RM.
Margono Margodirejo in Central Jakarta.

The sale of the advertising spots is unusual, since it was
conducted without an open tender. The administration argued that
implementing a tender system would take a longer time, while it
was in badly need of the fund for the renovation.

The HI traffic circle is popular among protesters, as it is
located at a strategic location in the heart of the city. If
there is a demonstration at the spot, it can take motorists hours
to pass along Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. MH. Thamrin due to
traffic congestion.

Besides staging a rally in the circle, the demonstrators often
jumped into the water pond, and climbed the 17-meter Welcome
Statue at the center of the circle.

The administration had earlier put several flower pots in the
circle, but this measure failed to keep the protesters away.
Indeed, some of the pots were even broken.