Traffic chaos worsens

JAKARTA (JP): Motorists and pedestrians passing down the perennially crowded streets of Jatinegara and Tanah Abang must remain patient for a bit longer because the local authorities have decided to allow hoards of sidewalk vendors who block streets in the areas and cause traffic chaos to continue trading until the Idul Fitri holidays.

Huge numbers of street traders have set up shop around Jatinegara market in East Jakarta and Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta, rendering nearby streets unpassable to pedestrians and motorists alike.

The number of traders usually peaks during the fasting month of Ramadhan ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday.

Ignoring the problems caused to pedestrians and motorists, the mayors of East an Central Jakarta, Andi Mappaganty and Andi Subur Abdullah, said separately on Friday that they were unable to force vendors away from the sites and prevent them from making money with which to celebrate Idul Fitri.

"For as long as the streets are passable to buses, the vendors will be allowed to remain in the area," Mappaganty said.

"We've tried to relocate them to designated areas but they always move back to the roadsides. They say that sales are better on streets close to the big markets," he added.

Andi Subur said: "We should be flexible. If we force them to move and they can't sell their merchandise then it means that we're preventing them from taking advantage of a once-a-year chance to boost their incomes."

For years, street vendors at the two sites have caused chronic traffic jams.

Motorists commonly spend an hour negotiating short stretches of road past both markets which are partially blocked by trader's tents, kiosks and mats.

"It's a usual scene here," said a Tanah Abang fruit vendor. "This area would loose its identity if there were no more traffic jams," he added. (ind)