There Is No Right Solution To Overcome Illegal Parking In The Istiqlal Mosque Area

The Istiqlal Mosque area which is often used as a illegal parking area/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - The problem of illegal parking that occupies the road in front of the Istiqlal Mosque, Sawah Besar District, Central Jakarta, has not been resolved to date. A number of parties seem to be closing their eyes regarding the existence of illegal parking in the Istiqlal Mosque area.

In fact, related agencies such as the Central Jakarta Transportation Agency (Sudinhub) also seemed not serious in overcoming the rise of illegal parking on the front road of the Istiqlal Mosque, which resulted in burglary and extortion.

"The Istiqlal Mosque has a parking lot, which is limited by the authorities of the mosque. There is a parking entrance. It used to be possible to enter, the land is wide," said Head of the Central Jakarta Transportation Sub-dept., M. Wildan Anwar when confirmed by VOI, Tuesday, May 14.

Meanwhile, when asked about efforts to handle illegal parking on the shoulder of the road in front of the Istiqlal Mosque, Wildan did not explain the efforts to place official parking bags. According to him, his party only focuses on controlling it with joint personnel.

"We are moving an integrated team for the control operation together with elements of the National Police, the TNI and the Regional Government from the Satpol PP and the Transportation Agency," he said briefly.

The problem of illegal parking that has continued to mushroom for years in front of the Istiqlal Mosque, Central Jakarta has become the homework of a number of related agencies.

This problem also received a response from the Central Jakarta Regional Traffic Unit. In this case, the police suggested that parking bags located in the Istiqlal Mosque area and the Cathedral Church be legalized during religious events.

The suggestion was made after the existence of illegal levies (Pungli) in the Istiqlal Mosque area which set a price of Rp. 150,000 to visitors.

"If there are big events like motherland, we will coordinate, maybe they can be legalized. The reason is, parking bags inside the Istiqlal Mosque are not enough to accommodate visitor vehicles, especially on holidays," said Head of Traffic at the Central Jakarta Metro Police, Kompol Gomos Simamora to reporters, Monday, May 13.