Thamrin project to start in April

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is scheduled to start the Thamrin Walk project along Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, in April, deputy governor of development affairs Tb. M. Rais said on Wednesday.

Rais said that all 28 of the high-rise building owners to be affected by the project had supported the beautification plan.

"We will invite them again before the Idul Fitri holidays to talk about the project's development," he said.

Formerly, eight of the 28 building owners were unwilling to join the venture, which includes taking down fences between high- rise buildings and widening sidewalks. Their concerns primarily focussed on security issues should their fences be taken down.

The project is designed to beautify the area with the aim of making it "friendlier" for pedestrians according to officials.

Prawoto Danumihardjo, the city's assistant for economic and development affairs, said that as soon as the project was completed, a similar project would be developed along Jl. Sudirman.

Prawoto said that research on the Thamrin Walk project started in 1983.

"The idea is to make use of the building properties along Thamrin to contribute to public facilities by providing better and wider sidewalks," Prawoto said. (edt/ind)