Thousands of Trees to be Sacrificed for Sidewalk Project

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta administration will sacrifice thousands of trees for sidewalk widening project along Jalan Jenderal Sudirman and Jalan M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta. “Apologize to all because there will be cutting down of trees in the near future,” Jakarta administration secretary Saefullah said yesterday at the City Hall.

Saefullah said that trees on the separator of slow and fast lanes will be cut down and relocated to new locations.

Earlier, 5000-ish trees were cut down for light rail transit (LRT) projects in East Jakarta and North Jakarta and mass rapid transit project on Jalan Sisingamangaraja and Jalan Jenderal Sudirman.

Meanwhile, the sidewalk widening project called ‘Trotoarku’ will commence in mid-October and is expected to be completed by June before Asian Games XVIII in August 2018.

Saefullah said that the sidewalks will be widened to 9-10 meters by removing barriers between buildings and roads.

Jakarta administration will disseminate the project to companies domiciled on Jalan Sudirman and Thamrin as well as side walkers, car and motorbike users.

At present, sidewalks subject to alterations due to MRT project have been narrowed in several locations, such as in front of Ratu Plaza, Education and Culture building, Chase Plaza building and behind the Indonesia Stock Exchange building that is now only 1-1.5-meter wide.

Jakarta administration reports that there are 9,350 trees along Jalan Sudirman and Thamrin comprising mahoganies, flamboyants, banyans and jati mas trees.

Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat has instructed relocation of trees age 10-25 years to Taman BMW Park in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta and KH Hasyim Asyari Grand Mosque in West Jakarta.

LINDA HAIRANI