Thamrin beautification plan on hold due to crisis

JAKARTA (JP): The devastating economic crisis has forced Governor Sutiyoso to postpone indefinitely his plan to tear down fences and widen sidewalks along Jl. M.H. Thamrin, to make the street "friendlier".

Sutiyoso said Thursday that building owners along the thoroughfare were so hard hit by the crisis that the administration "did not have the heart" to ask them to take part in the beautification project.

"I still want to go ahead with the project when the crisis is over. The postponement doesn't mean that my desire to beautify the road is dead. We will continue planting flowers at Hotel Indonesia's traffic circle," he said.

The project, scheduled to start next month, would affect 20 high-rise buildings, excluding embassies, along the 1.6 kilometer Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, one of the city's main roads.

Initially, some affected property owners raised objection to the plan because they were worried about security once part of their land was acquired for the project and no tall fences would be tolerated.

Under the administration's plan, called the Thamrin Walk, the fences between high-rise buildings and the sidewalks would be torn down to widen the walkways and create a friendlier atmosphere for pedestrians.

The sidewalks are to be expanded to between seven meters and eight meters wide.

The administration has budgeted Rp 13.2 billion ($1.5 million), while the 20 building owners would contribute another Rp 8.5 billion.

"If I insist on pressing ahead with the project, it would mean I'm selfish," Sutiyoso said. (ind)