Tangerang to build 'Orchard Rd'

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The highway from the heart of Tangerang municipality to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport will soon become the new commercial district of the growing region.

The municipal administration recently revealed a plan to transform Jl. Raya Serpong into a shopping arcade similar to Orchard Road in Singapore.

As a commercial area, the road is strategic as it also links the trade line Jakarta-Merak toll road and Serpong-Pondok Pinang toll road.

The plan is in line with the rapid growth of housing complexes and business areas in Serpong district. Currently, dozens of shopping malls and hundreds of shop-houses can be seen under construction along the eight-kilometer long road.

As the municipality administration is preparing the roadsides for businesses, the Tangerang regency administration plans to improve its services to residents by providing all-in-one bus stops along the busy road.

Head of bus terminals division at the regency's transportation agency, Ari Novi Purnama, explained on Monday that his office planned to construct 40 "drive-throughs", so passengers don't have to chase down buses or public minivans.

Ari explained that each bus shelter would resemble a corridor of fast food restaurant.

"Each bus shelter will cost Rp 150 million (US$15,500). It will have shops, information kiosks, food stalls, restrooms for drivers and a prayer room for Muslims," he said, adding that the regency administration had allocated Rp 6 billion from its budget this year for the project.

The project is expected to be complete in December, Ari added.