Tangerang mulls London-ization

Tangerang mulls London-ization

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang

It has been ten years since the Tangerang administration first
began discussing plans to transform the Cisadane river, which
flows through the heart of town, to become more like the great
Thames Gateway in London, but it has yet to materialize due to
financial constraints.

In a bid to attract investors, the administration is again
toying with the idea.

Syamsul Muarif, a researcher with the National Care
Institution (LPB) who is involved in the plan, said on Friday
that the river had the potential to be developed into a tourist
destination.

The previous master plan made under the administration of
mayor Zakaria Machmud called for the riverbanks to be dotted with
nice hotels, restaurants, chic shops, office buildings, water
transportation terminals and public parks.

The wide river, which bisects Tangerang city seems a natural
choice for being the center of the town's activities.

The river also has the potential to be a 12-kilometer water
transportation link between River Gate X in Pasar Baru
subdistrict and Gading Serpong near the Jakarta-Merak toll road.

The area designated for business and public facilities will
stretch from the Lim Sio Liong Bridge near the Robinson Plaza
shopping mall to River Gate X, where visitors can enjoy a nice
view of the river, explained Syamsul.

"But currently there are many illegal food stalls along the
riverside, which is supposed to be a city park."

However, he still expressed optimism that the administration
could make it a corridor stretching from the Lim Sio Liong
Bridge, which is located right behind Tangerang Grand Mosque, to
the border of the municipality and Tangerang regency in Gading
Serpong.

Water transportation terminals would likely be built below the
bridges of Lim Sio Liong, Unis, Cikokol, Kebon Nanas and Gading
Serpong.

"But this plan will require a Rp 3 trillion (US$333 million)
investment, which includes the cost to dredge the river," Syamsul
added.