JPO Revitalization Which Is Focused Only In The City Center

People crossing at the pelican crossing on the road in the Sarinah area, Jalan Thamrin, Jakarta (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Jakarta Provincial Government will revitalize three pedestrian bridges (JPO) on Jalan Sudirman, Central Jakarta. The bridge will be transformed with a contemporary concept, which is of interest to those who are eyeing the location of Instagramable photos.

The three JPOs are in the area of Le Meridien Hotel, Atmajaya University and Dukuh Atas. This JPO will be equipped with lighting and elevator facilities to facilitate access for people with disabilities, the elderly and pregnant women.

Especially for JPOs in the Le Meridien Hotel area, the crossing access will also be widened, from only 2.5 meters to 5 meters. The foundation of the JPO will also be strengthened.

"The JPO in front of Le Meridien has high demand (users). Then, the structure is a bit shaky, so we will strengthen it as well as we broaden it," said Head of Bina Marga DKI Hari Nugroho.

The revitalization of the three JPOs will begin at the end of November 2019 and is planned to be completed in March 2020. The cost of revitalization uses the building floor coefficient compensation (KLB) fund from a number of companies. The revitalization of one JPO is accompanied by the procurement of an elevator, which will cost around IDR 10 billion. In total, the three JPOs cost Rp. 30 billion.

Public policy observer Trubus Rahadiansyah said DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is focusing on revitalizing JPO in the Sudirman-Thamrin area because the area has a high level of activity and is the center of business in Jakarta.

That way, it is hoped that the revitalization of the JPO on Jalan Sudirman will be effective in attracting tourists because of the photo experience with the background of Jakarta.

"Moreover, in the near future Jakarta will hold Formula E. So, the polished JPO focuses on the central area first, such as the protocol roads. Surely many foreigners staying at hotels along Jalan Sudirman and Thamrin are interested in crossing the JPO," said Trubus. told VOI, Tuesday, November 12.

However, the revitalization of the JPO by procuring this lift was questioned by a number of members of Commission D DPRD Jakarta. A member of Commission D from the PSI faction, Viani Limardi, thinks that the procurement of elevators on the Protocol road is not really needed. This is because the average JPO users are workers whose offices are located around Jalan Sudirman.

"The ones who most need elevators are the elderly. Most of the elderly people access JPO in residential areas, on the side, not on protocol roads."

Viani

Meanwhile, a member of Commission D from the Gerindra faction, Syarif, said that the revitalization was deliberately carried out in the city center. At least that was the answer from the Bina Marga Office when he asked. When there is a new budget, the revitalization will continue at the JPO outside the protocol road.

"Indeed, it is about the availability of funds. He said, later in the following year a revitalization will be designed outside the protocol road if there is an available fee," said Syarif.

Recently, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has again liked to polish JPO with contemporary nuances. Since taking office in 2017, Anies has revitalized as many as 12 JPOs on Jalan Sudirman to Jalan MH Thamrin - three JPOs in the plan.

However, the JPOs that Anies beautified were mostly on Jalan Sudirman. There are only two revitalization of JPO outside Jalan Sudirman, namely in the Pasar Minggu area and Jalan Daan Mogot.

Anies revitalized JPO starting from the Senayan Roundabout JPO, Gelora Bung Karno JPO, and Polda Metro Jaya JPO in February. Then, following the revitalization of the Dukuh Atas JPO.