Yogyakarta needs the private sector to restructure Malioboro

The Yogyakarta local government is in dire need of investors in its attempt to restructure the Jl. Malioboro area, the city’s shopping landmark, especially in order to deal with traffic congestion, an official has said.

“We will transform Malioboro into a pedestrian-friendly area as has already been directed by the area blueprint,” head of infrastructure control and spatial planning of Yogyakarta Regional Development Agency Wahyu Handoyo said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

He added that,“ in order to make it happen, we will need investors.”

He said that right now his agency was awaiting a feasibility study currently being conducted by the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).

“Once the study is done, then we will offer to the private

sector cooperation models in reorganizing the area,” he said.

Wahyu said that among the pivotal issues in transforming the Malioboro area into a pedestrian-friendly area was the provision of adequate parking, as well as a revitalization of Tugu station into a business district and parking area.

He said that the lack of parking areas in Malioboro caused traffic congestion especially during holidays and weekends.

Head of Yogyakarta Transportation Agency Tjipto Haribowo said that the parking areas would be terraced so as to accommodate more vehicles.(drs/dic