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.