Continue To Build A 4-meter-wide Trotoar Next Year, DKI Provincial Government: Don't THINK About Shrinking The Road, But We Prioritize Pedestrians

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has allocated a budget of IDR 171 billion in the 2023 APBD draft to continue the construction of sidewalks in Jakarta.

The sidewalk to be built next year has a complement street concept, is equipped with a guiding block, a bollard (concrete ball), and is up to 4 meters wide.

Head of the DKI Jakarta Highways Agency, Hari Nugroho, emphasized that the sidewalks to be built will not narrow the road. This is because the DKI Provincial Government will build sidewalks that are consistent with road lanes.

"We make the sidewalks not narrow the road but consistency the lanes. For example, there were four lanes to three lanes. That's a bittle neck. With that sidewalk, we have consistency in the lanes of all three," Hari told reporters, Sunday, November 20.

Hari admitted that there would be an impact of congestion during the sidewalk construction process. However, traffic congestion at the construction point for sidewalk construction is only temporary.

"The name of physical work must be jammed. But it's only temporary. This means that there are limits during the physical work process. It takes a maximum of three months," said Hari.

After all, said Hari, pedestrians should be prioritized, then cyclists, users of public transportation, and users of private vehicles.

"So if you think it's running, really, take it lightly? No. Indeed, we think in the future as a global city, we prioritize sidewalks for pedestrians," said Hari.

For information, in working on sidewalks next year, the DKI Provincial Government has proposed a budget of IDR 171 billion in the draft APBD for the 2023 fiscal year. The locations are in the Mangga Besar area, Gunung Sahari Raya, the area around the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS), Mangga Dua Raya, Daan Mogot, and Mas Mansyur segment north.

Commission D of the DKI Jakarta DPRD approved the nominal proposal. However, Chairman of Commission D of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Ida Maheasy emphasized that the Bina Marga Office should carefully review the sidewalk construction plan next year.

The reason is that Ida assessed that many constructions and widening of sidewalks in Jakarta actually reduced the volume of roads. As a result, this often causes traffic jams.

"Our emphasis is that there must be a concept that the construction of sidewalks can be effective and does not cause traffic jams," said Ida at a meeting to discuss the RAPBD, Tuesday, November 15.

Ida also reminded the DKI Jakarta Highways Agency to cooperate with the DKI Jakarta Satpol PP to supervise the sidewalks that have been built so that they are not misused. The reason is, this sidewalk was built to support integrated transportation areas.

"This is one of Commission D's recommendations so that Bina Marga must cooperate with Satpol PP to regulate it all, so return the sidewalk to its initial function. I will convey it during the Banggar meeting later," said Ida.