T

he Jakarta administration has painted road separators in bright colors as part of its “beautification” program to welcome the Asian Games.

Jakarta Police traffic director Sr. Comr. Yusuf said making road dividers colorful was tolerable in welcoming and enlivening certain events, including the regional sporting event.

“It depends on the purpose. If it is aimed at the Asian Games, it could be allowed but only during the event,” he said at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Tuesday.

He said he had received a notice from the city administration regarding the plan to brighten up some road dividers and walls to welcome the upcoming Asian Games, slated to kick off on Aug. 18. However, he said the administration should immediately return them to the default black-and-white design once the Games were over.

The colorful road separators can be found on Jl. Warung Jati Barat in South Jakarta, on Jl. Raya Mabes Hankam and near Taman Mini Indonesia recreational park in East Jakarta. The administration, however, has begun returning them to black and white, citing safety reasons.

“There are certain rules on road markings and I was informed that these should be adhered to,” Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said on Tuesday.