Sultan HB X: Demolition Of ABA Parking Park Don't Abandon Residents

JAKARTA - Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X asked the process of dismantling the Abu Bakar Ali (ABA) Parking area of Yogyakarta City into green open spaces (RTH) not to neglect the fate of residents, especially parking attendants.

"The important thing is that they are not abandoned so they can switch to Mandala Krida parking, Giwangan Terminal and so on," said Sultan at the Kepatihan complex, Yogyakarta, Tuesday, April 15, as reported by ANTARA.

Sultan emphasized the importance of providing a humane relocation solution before the demolition was carried out.

According to the Sultan, several locations have been prepared for relocation, both permanent and temporary.

The permanent relocation locations include the Giwangan Terminal and the Ketandan parking lot, while temporary shelters are prepared at the Mandala Krida Stadium.

Regarding the presence of traders in the ABA area, the Sultan admitted that he did not know for sure who gave the permit because from the beginning the area was intended for parking.

Instead, he questioned why the parking area could be occupied by traders.

"Who told (to place) who? Yes, I don't know, because it is managed by the City Government. Yes, later we will look for a breakdown, but we have to talk to the City Government. If the model is like this, everything will never be completed. The parking lot but the traders enter," he said.

Acting Head of the DIY Transportation Service, Wiyos Santoso, stated that the lease contract for ABA asset management was extended until April 28, 2025 and after that the building would be demolished and functioned as green open space.

The Yogyakarta Regional Government and the Yogyakarta City Government are currently finalizing the relocation plan for jukir and traders.

For traders, the City Government has prepared a relocation location in the Babadan/Batikan area with a capacity of 168 kiosks. Currently, the curation process is ongoing by the Yogyakarta City Trade Office so that the placement is by each type of merchandise.

"This curation will make it easier to place the location of traders according to the type of merchandise," said Wiyos.

As for parking attendants, the Yogyakarta City Transportation Agency is mapping alternative parking locations on roads and special parking spaces.

If the curation of traders and jukir is completed, there will be an alternative location for relocation. It is hoped that the ABA building can be demolished and moved to a permanent location in Ketangan Parking on April 29, 2025.

Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo said the City Government had prepared four temporary parking points and saw the potential for unproductive lands such as empty shophouses at Giwangan Terminal and land around the Animal and Ornamental Plants Market (PASTY).

"We started preparing places that might not have been productive before, we will turn them into productive. For example, the Giwangan Terminal, that's been a sleeping area," he said.