TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Public minivan (angkot) drivers are threatening to go on a strike as Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan closes Jalan Jatibaru Raya for vehicles from 8 am to 6 pm starting today to revamp Tanah Abang.

Ombri, a driver of medium sized city bus Kopaja of Tanah Abang-Kampung Melayu route, has expressed his objection to the policy. “It’s wrong. Why shut down the road?” he told Tempo in a heavy Medan accent.

According to him, the policy to close the road in order to accommodate street vendors is unjustifiable. Vendors should do their businesses in the market, not the public road, he argued. “There are markets for businesses.”

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has started revamping Tanah Abang today, Dec. 22 by closing Jalan Jatibaru Raya in front of Tanah Abang Station from 8 am to 6 pm to accommodate street vendors.

Read: Jakarta Street Vendors Allowed to Occupy Tanah Abang Road

Private cars and public transport are banned from entering the road during such hours. The closure applies to two lanes both to Jatibaru and Jalan Kebon Jati from the tax office to Block G intersection.

Jakarta Transportation Department head Andri Yansyah said his office has rearranged the traffic. “Road users are expected to adjust to the traffic arrangement in place,” Andri says yesterday at the City Hall.

Ombri says that he and his fellow drivers will go on a strike as Governor Anies Baswedan closed down their source of living. He has called on Jakarta administration to consider scrapping the policy.

The 50-year-old driver said that the closure of Jalan Jatibaru Raya will only benefit street vendors.

Read: Anies Baswedan Tanah Abang Partially Closed for Vehicles

Meanwhile, Bajaj driver Iwan said he has no objection to the closure, citing alternative roads.

Iwan said that he could pass through the roads to Block A and Block G in Tanah Abang. However, he was worried that the closure will confuse passengers heading to Tanah Abang Station. Passengers also need to walk from Block G to the intended stores because no vehicles are allowed.

Tempo observes on Thursday afternoon that the traffic on Jalan Jatibaru Raya was congested and full of motorcycles, Bajajs, angkots and Kopaja buses.

Horns were blaring together with the noise from vehicle engines. Street vendors occupied the sidewalks, forcing pedestrian to walk on the side of the road. Such a situation is currently being addressed by Anies Baswedan by closing Jalan Jatibaru Raya for ten hours a day.

ALFAN HILMI