Jakarta Governor Proposes Underground Tunnel to Link Senayan Malls, Boost Connectivity

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is pushing for the construction of an underground tunnel to connect the Senayan City and Plaza Senayan shopping centers. The initiative aims to enhance pedestrian access and alleviate traffic congestion in the bustling Senayan district.

Baswedan envisions the underground passage not only as a convenient link for shoppers but also as a potential space for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (UMKM) to operate. "The space underneath can be utilized for UMKM to sell and so on," he stated, emphasizing the dual purpose of the project.

The governor believes that linking these two major commercial hubs will significantly improve pedestrian flow and ease traffic, which often causes bottlenecks in the area. He drew a parallel to the successful underground connections at Bundaran HI, which link several hotels and provide access to the MRT, also incorporating space for UMKM.

Previously, the lack of connection between the malls was attributed to "ego" issues between their managements. Baswedan indicated that if the mall operators do not agree to the connectivity project, the provincial government is prepared to increase their taxes as leverage. "If they don't want to be connected, well, we'll just raise their taxes. That's how we work," he explained, asserting that such a move would incentivize negotiation due to the mutual benefits of the connection.