Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – At least 35 shops and makeshift kiosks were demolished Tuesday by the Tangerang regency administration to make way for the construction of the Ciputat overpass.

Traders along Jl. Dewi Sartika, Jl. Juanda and Jl. Aria Putra were forced to leave after unsuccessfully campaigning against the demolition. "We have done enough bargaining and negotiating with traders who refused to leave," Deden Sugandhi, the administration's assistant for development control, said Tuesday.

Traders had demanded greater compensation for the land and buildings than had been offered, but the local government refused to pay.

Deden said the administration had warned the traders to leave their buildings by July 24, but few had complied with the warning until it was clear the buildings were to be demolished.

"We will notify the Public Works Ministry once the demolition is complete. The ministry can start the construction work immediately as it is responsible for it," he said, adding that the local administration had only been responsible for acquiring the land.

The Tangerang administration spent Rp 25 billion from its 2005 budget and another Rp 15 billion from this year's budget on buying the land. The overpass, which is estimated to cost Rp 100 billion, is being funded by the Public Works Ministry through a loan from the Japanese International Bank Corporation.

The administration and the ministry believe the 800-meter-long overpass, which will run from Jl. Dewi Sartika to Jl. Juanda, is the only solution to the chronic traffic congestion in the area.