TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The police will hold a car-free day event on Jalan Sudirman-Thamrin during New Year's Eve starting 5:00 p.m. until it is finished.

"We will apply traffic engineering," said Head of the Jakarta Metro Traffic Police Adj. Sr. Comm. Budiyanto, Monday, December 31.

Traffic Director of Jakarta Metro Police Sr. Comr. Yusuf said as many as 16 roads will be redirected to Jalan Majapahit (Harmoni intersection), Jalan Museum, Jalan Budi Kemuliaan, Jalan Kebon Sirih (intersection of Jalan Serong to intersection of Jalan Agus Salim or Sabang), and Jalan Wahid Hasyim (the intersection of Jalan Mas Mansyur to the intersection of Jalan Agus Salim or Sabang).

The other roads that would be diverted are Jalan Kebon Kacang, Jalan Teluk Betung, Jalan Merdeka Barat, Jalan Merdeka Selatan, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Jalan Tanjung Karang, Jalan Imam Bonjol, Jalan Sunda, Jalan Merdeka Selatan (phase 1 in front of Wisma Antara and phase two in the US Embassy), Jalan Merdeka Utara before Pertamina, and Jalan Veteran 3.

To reduce vehicle density, Jakarta provincial government has provided 30 parking spaces for people who plan to celebrate the turn of the year in the city center. The areas are estimated to be able to accommodate 25,647 four-wheeled vehicles and 14,983 two-wheeled vehicles.

The parking spaces, among others, are located at Menara BCA which can accommodate 5,092 cars and 1,950 motorcycles, at Grand Indonesia which can accommodate 4,374 cars and 1,450 motorcycles, and at Wisma BNI 46 building which can load 1,235 cars and 1,000 motorbikes.

The city administration also provides parking areas at Plaza Indonesia, Wisma Nusantara, Wisma Antara, Jakarta Theater, Gedung Jaya, Prince Center Building, Midplaza Building Complex, Plaza Permata, and Wisma Nugraha Santana, Plaza BII, Menara Thamrin, Artaloka Building, BNI 46Building, Menara BDN, Multimedia Tower Building, and The City Tower.

Jakarta government has set up four stages for the celebration of New Year's Eve on Jalan Sudirman-Thamrin, on which numbers of famous bands in the capital city would perform there.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA | ANTARA