Jakarta – Having to dodge cars, three-wheeled taxis, motorcycles and carts appearing from nowhere could soon be a thing of the past for Central Jakarta residents, thanks to the municipality's plans to develop more sidewalks on city roads next year.

"This is in line with the city administration's program to improve public transportation with the ongoing development of the busway project. We want people to feel it is more convenient walking than driving in a car," Central Jakarta Mayor Muhayat told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

Muhayat said his municipality planned to construct sidewalks from Pasar Baru to the National Monument (Monas) Park via the Hotel Borobudur, from Roxy in West Jakarta to Monas, from Kemayoran to Monas and from Pejompongan to Monas via Tanah Abang.

"Hopefully, more people, including tourists, will be able to enjoy these wider sidewalks," Muhayat said, adding that the Monas area was chosen because it was the central city's main landmark. He did not mention the cost of the projects, saying only that they would be developed in cooperation with the city public works and parks agencies.

The City Parks Agency often uses the capital's few existing sidewalks to plant small trees because of the limited space available for green areas in the city. These leafy obstacles mean pedestrians often have to walk on the road to avoid bumping into them.

Jl. MH Thamrin, one of the city's prime business districts, already has new sidewalks, worth an estimated Rp 10 billion (about US$998,000). The municipal administration has also recouped sidewalks on Jl. Salemba Raya, Jl. Kramat Raya, Jl. Gunung Sahari and Jl. Paseban.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's administration has launched an array of beautification projects across the municipality that hosts foreign embassies, governmental offices and the offices of multinational companies. The city administration has also built another attraction at the Monas Park, a fountain with music and laser decorations that cost Rp 26 billion.

It is also constructing a fountain with a new statue of national hero Prince Diponegoro on Jl. P. Diponegoro in the plush housing area of Menteng, which is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

The historical Persija soccer stadium in Menteng will also be converted into a community park equipped with cafes, restaurants and car parks. That project is estimated to cost Rp 55.5 billion.