S

treet vendors occupying the area under the Asemka overpass have been registered, with their presence ensuring the cleanliness of the space, a West Jakarta official said on Tuesday.

“It’s no problem; those [operating] under the Asemka overpass are vendors that we relocated from the former space, where [an infrastructure] project is currently being developed. [The roadside occupation] has been approved by the mayor [Anas Effendi], because these street vendors are small and medium enterprises,” Nuraini Silviana, head of West Java’s cooperatives, micro, small and medium enterprises and trade agency, said on Tuesday.

Nuraini said the agency was using the space as a temporary relocation site, which meant that the city administration could reclaim the area at any time. She added that the space had previously been used as a warehouse, and that renewed use of the empty area would keep it neat and clean.

“[The vendors] must be ready to leave at any time, in case the city administration decides to use the space. A street vendor currently pays Rp 3,000 [22 US cents] a day,” she said.

Nuraini said she did not know how long the vendors would be allowed to operate under the overpass.

“We want to utilize all the space available around Asemka,” she said.

According to Jakarta bylaw No. 8/2007, the city administration may not allow street vendors to operate their stalls under an overpass. Article 25 of the bylaw stipulates that all individuals and entities are prohibited from trading or working along roads, sidewalks and pedestrian bridges, or in shelters and other public spaces.