Rp 55 billion needed to rebuild market

BOGOR (JP): The Bogor administration has appointed a private developer to rebuild the Pasar Kembang market in Bogor destroyed by fire last March.

PT Propindo Mulya Utama's president Aang Hamid Suganda said the market's reconstruction would cost Rp 55 billion (US$32.1 million).

"The Bogor mayoralty has given us 24 months to reconstruct the market," Aang said yesterday at the mayoralty's office.

He said his company had five alternative plans for the market but refused to revealed details.

According to Aang, Mayor Eddy Gunardi told the company to consider suggestions from the mayoralty and the Directorate General of Human Settlement (Cipta Karya) of the Ministry of Public Works.

Mayor Eddy confirmed the market, which covered five blocks before the fire, would be rebuilt.

Eddy said the reconstruction project should consider the directorate general's suggestion that two of the market's blocks be renovated and the remaining three be totally rebuilt.

According to Eddy, the mayoralty was demolishing the remaining sections of the gutted building.

"We need at least four months to clean up the market," Eddy said.

The fire claimed the lives of 10 department store employees at the market and forced thousands of small kiosk owners to move to a road in front of the market, causing traffic jams along the road. (24/jun)