The Old City Will Be Improved, The Government Forms A Task Force

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung revealed that there is a plan to reform the Kota Tua area. The plan will be carried out with the central government through the establishment of a task force or cross-agency task force.

"We see and we together, between the central government and the Jakarta government, want to make improvements to the Old Town," Pramono was quoted as saying on Sunday, October 19.

Pramono admitted that the revitalization of the historic area cannot be done instantly. Therefore, improvements will be carried out in stages with a clear share of responsibilities between institutions.

"Of course not bim salabim then, we plan to be more structured. For that some things we will do. Earlier we agreed to have a task force consisting of the central government, the Jakarta government. Later on the way there will definitely be SOEs, BUMDs, and the private sector," he said.

According to Pramono, the task force to be formed will be tasked with ensuring that the portion of work between the central government, regional governments, and the private sector so that the revitalization program can be more concrete.

"This task force is to detail what is the responsibility of the local government, what is the responsibility of the central government, and then what space will be opened for private involvement," he said.

In the early stages, in 2026, the DKI Provincial Government will focus on improving basic facilities and infrastructure in the Kota Tua area, starting from roads, rivers, to pedestrian routes. He called this infrastructure improvement the foundation before stepping into the development of space functions and creative economic activities.

One of the big plans included in the scheme is the transfer of the campus of the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) to the Kota Tua area.

"Then, we will propose to the central government to move the IKJ to this place. So that this really becomes a place where artists and so on will be able to obey it," said Pramono.

According to him, the presence of IKJ in the cultural heritage area will strengthen the character of Kota Tua as a center of art and creativity. "A heritage place like this requires many talents of artists who can directly stand on stage here, and I believe that the creative space is getting better, wider, wider," he continued.

However, Pramono emphasized that the DKI Provincial Government will not move the IKJ until the regional readiness is completed. Basic facilities will be prepared first, in line with the completion of the MRT line construction that penetrates the area.

"The plan is that in 2027 the MRT above, earlier which is still being built until the city is actually clean, including the roads, all concentrations below," he explained.

Pramono hopes that by 2027, to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Jakarta, until 2029 when the MRT project is completed until the Old City, the area is ready to become a new node for public activities and tourism.