Traffic to Ancol to flow one-way on New Year's
Traffic to Ancol to flow one-way on New Year's
JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Edi Darnadi
announced that he will implement one-way traffic systems along
Jl. Gunung Sahari and Jl. RE Martadinata in a bid to facilitate
traffic heading to the Ancol dreamland park.
"The one-way traffic will start at 6 p.m., and be in effect
until 2 a.m., along the two roads from Senen in the direction of
Ancol and Jl. Yos Sudarso," Edi told a press conference.
He explained that visitors can go to the amusement park from
Jl. Gunung Sahari through three gates on the west and central
part of the park and another one on Jl. Jalur Wisata.
Edi said to reduce traffic jams in front of the gates, police
officers will be deployed there to direct traffic.
"Visitors intending to go back to Jl. Gunung Sahari should
take alternative routes through Sunter and the elevated toll
roads," Edi said.
"We try our best to get rid of the traffic jams in Ancol,
because it gets very crowded during New Year's Eve with nobody
being able to get anywhere," he said.
As usual the Ancol dreamland park will be the center for New
Year's Eve festivities and will be visited by Jakartans who
intend to spend the night in the area.
Last year 180,880 people visited Ancol on New Year's Eve and
this year the number is projected to be 10.5 percent higher.
Edi said 723 security officers from various forces such as the
police, the North Jakarta military command and the city land and
traffic control agency will be deployed to keep order in the
area.
"They will be divided up and sent to 18 posts, each having a
community service facility for coping with people's problems,"
Edi said.
Attractions
Widodo, an executive of PT Pembangunan Jaya, managers of the
park, said Ancol will present various attractions to celebrate
New Year's Eve, ranging from dangdut and rock music, comedies,
parades of artists to fireworks. At midnight Governor Surjadi
Soedirdja, along with Speaker of the City Council MH Ritonga, as
well as other city administration officials are expected to join
the celebrations of New Year's Eve at Ancol.
Head of the City Tourism Office Fauzi Bowo said 331 permits
for New Year's Eve entertainments have been issued as of
yesterday.
Entertainments in Central Jakarta accounted for 121, North
Jakarta 54, West Jakarta 80, South Jakarta 65 and 11 in East
Jakarta. Fauzi said that organizers are reminded to end their
shows before 4 a.m., as was set by the city administration.
"Most hotels and restaurants are asking for permits to hold
the shows until 2 a.m., while discotheques and night clubs until
3:30 a.m."
During Christmas Eve two entertainment centers in West and
Central Jakarta were reprimanded for holding shows without any
valid permits, Fauzi said.
"The first was a karaoke bar on Jl. Pinangsia, West Jakarta,
and the second on Jl. Hayam Wuruk," Fauzi said.
Fauzi warned party organizers not to hold any parties during
New Year's Eve without the proper permit otherwise the city
administration will take firm action against them. (yns)