More street pack in Ramadhan

Despite the East Jakarta administration's plan to clear the area around Jatinegara of street vendors and illegal parking, the number of vendors and obstructed sidewalks appears to have increased.

"It’s got more crowded lately. The sidewalks in front of the shops are packed with more street vendors," said a passerby, Minah, as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday.

Another passerby, Salam, echoed Minah. The Matraman resident regularly visits Jatinegara to take his wife shopping.

"It happens every year. Street vendors mushroom across Jatinegara during Ramadhan. I'm not sure whether they've been here a long time or they're just seasonal vendors," he said.

In Ramadhan, Salam added, street vendors in Jatinegara mostly sold snacks, fruit, clothes and shoes. He said the situation disrupted people's activities and caused gridlock along the road.

Read also: City begins towing cars parked on sidewalks

He called on the municipality administration to provide special space for street vendors so that pedestrians and motorists like him would not be obstructed.

"It's an annual phenomenon, the [municipality] administration should have known and anticipated it. If they really want to tidy up the area, they can either ban the street vendors or provide special space for them," he said.

Illegal parking on sidewalks has also increased with the greater number of visitors during Ramadhan and traffic congestion has become more severe. (vla/wit)