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any commuters have complained that train stations in Greater Jakarta have lost their local flavor since state-owned railway operator PT KAI evicted small vendors from stations and replaced them with convenience stores and franchise and chain restaurants.

KAI attempted to improve its services last year by removing all vendors from stations in Greater Jakarta to increase space for passengers and to provide more parking areas as part of its efforts to fulfill a target of 1.2 million passengers in 2018.

The spaces where the vendors used to trade are now occupied by major franchise stores and chain restaurants. For example, Jakarta Kota station in West Jakarta is dominated by shops such as Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, A&W and convenience store 7-Eleven. A similar scene can be seen in Manggarai Station in South Jakarta, where 7-Eleven and KFC operate.

While many passengers enjoy the now clean, spacious and peaceful stations, some feel that the stations have lost their local flavor.

One passenger, Anita Eka, said that self-employed vendors selling local food should be allowed to operate in the station. '€œNot everyone can afford Starbucks. Not everyone likes Starbucks. There should at least be a gorengan [fried snacks] or bubur ayam [chicken porridge] vendor inside the station,'€ said Anita, who was buying a bag of gorengan before entering Kota Station.

She added that because many foreign tourists also used Kota station, KAI should only allow local traders to open in the station. '€œStarbucks and Dunkin Donuts do not reflect local values. Why not let a Soto Betawi vendor or a Padang restaurant open in the station? So we can also introduce local food to the tourists,'€ Anita said.

Another passenger, Reyhan Dika, echoed Anita, adding that passengers needed small vendors to operate in the station.

'€œI admit that train stations are cleaner and more comfortable now that the vendors have been evicted. However, it'€™s strange that KAI would replace the vendors with franchise stores. I thought they would organize the vendors and make a canteen or food court,'€ he said.

Reyhan was eating at a nasi uduk (Jakarta mixed rice) street vendor just outside Manggarai Station. He said he preferred local dishes rather than food from foreign restaurant chains.

'€œA canteen or food court would be much better for commuters. Stores like KFC don'€™t have much to offer. Nasi uduk tastes better,'€ he said jokingly.

Reyhan suggested that the street vendors outside Manggarai Station, who greatly contributed to traffic congestion in the area, should be organized and relocated inside the station in a clean and affordable food court. '€œSo passengers can eat inside the station while waiting for the train,'€ he said.

Meanwhile, PT KAI'€™s Operation Region (Daop) I Jakarta representative, Agus Komarudin, denied that spots in the stations were reserved for chain and franchise stores and restaurants.

'€œAnyone can open a store at the station, whether it'€™s a franchise giant or an UMKM [small and medium enterprises], just as long as they pass the qualifying standards that have been set by KAI,'€ Agus told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The standards, he said, included hygiene and a defined management, among others.

He added that many UMKM vendors were unhygienic. He said such vendors affected passengers'€™ health and comfort.

'€œLast but not least, the vendors must be able to pay rent,'€ Agus said.

Street vendors evicted from train stations in the city have filed a lawsuit against PT KAI demanding the state-owned enterprise pay a total of Rp 141.5 billion (US$12 million) in compensation.