Tanah Abang no longer attractive: Vendors
Tanah Abang no longer attractive: Vendors
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Lack of access and the absence of parking lots in the Tanah Abang
textile market in Central Jakarta have driven away customers,
making business in the market less lucrative than it used to be.
The ongoing reconstruction project, carried out by city-owned
market operator PD Pasar Jaya, has closed substantial road access
to the textile market, traders complained.
"Vehicles can only enter the market through Jl. KH Mas Mansyur
on the East side. Previously, it was able to be accessed from
Jati Baru in the North and Jl. Kebon Jati in the South," a
trader, who declined to be named, told The Jakarta Post on
Sunday.
With vendors occupying the sidewalks and public minivans
stopping along Jl. Kebon Jati, vehicles are having difficulty
reaching the market.
A five-story parking lot has been demolished and turned it
into kiosks that will be leased soon.
"My customers say they have no choice but to park their
vehicles on the street but it's very costly," the vendor said,
adding that motorists have to pay Rp 20,000 (US$2.4) a day.
PD Pasar Jaya has appointed developer PT Priamanaya Djan
International to renovate the market at Rp 600 billion. The
reconstruction will go on for 16 months while the groundbreaking
ceremony is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. to be officiated by
Governor Sutiyoso.
Another trader, Hendra, said that PD Pasar Jaya had actually
allocated a vacant plot of land on Jl. Kebon Kacang, around 500
meters from the market for parking, but many of his customers
have complained that it was too far.
"The customers have to use porters to carry their goods,
meaning more expenditure," he said.
Many vendors, whose kiosks at the market were razed by fire on
Feb. 19, have started to set up makeshift tents at the entrances
of the market.
Such a chaotic situation has driven away customers.
"Fewer buyers are coming to Tanah Abang. Now, they prefer to
shop at trade centers that have been mushrooming all over the
city," another trader, Kartika, told the Post, adding that the
trade centers offer air-conditioned areas and food courts that
could entice buyers.
With less potential customers coming to Tanah Abang, traders
are experiencing a severe blow to their daily income.
"My daily revenue has dropped to almost 50 percent after the
reconstruction project started because many customers no longer
show up," Hendra said.
He said that if PD Pasar Jaya did nothing to improve
conditions, the livelihood of the traders would be put at risk.
"Tanah Abang market has only been thriving in the past 10
years and we don't want to see it last only for that period," he
said in dismay.