26.0 Jakarta Flooding and Traffic Jam - Related Solutions?

The major infrastructure problems of Jakarta of flooding and traffic jam, is it possible that there exists a solution that could at least partially solve both issues?  In recent times, major flooding happens at least once every 5 years due to a number of reasons of which distruption of the main water ways is one of them.   While traffic jam as we all know is a daily occurance.  So certainly the 2 big probelms of Jakarta are of top priority and are important enough to consider a long term solution that may take 10 years or so to execute but would be a real light at the end of the tunnel with additonal positive impacts.

THESIS

Widen and deepen the full length of the Ciliwung river from Bogor to the Java Sea, clean up the water, make it an attractive feature that becomes a prime living location that patially solves the flooding issue and is then used for Public Mass Transit in the form of River Boats. 




Singapore River Condos and Waterfront amenities
 

Ciliwung River running through the center of Jakarta (map DKI Jakarta)

 

We have seen with recent developments at the Epicentrum in Kuningan (11.0 Rasuna Epicentrum, Jakarta - a Genuine Move Towards Urbanization!), the once polluted and unmanaged river has been turned into a real aesthetic feature.  Is it possible this can also be done for the whole of the Ciliwung River? 

Cleaned up river in Kuningan

THE QUESTION IS WHY NOT?  

1.  There are numberous river crossings of roads and utilities that need to be rebuilt. YES, this is essentially part of the cost for developing a public transport line, I think much cheaper than building any elevated rail or undeground rail!

2.  There are many "squatters" who need to be relocated. YES, these squatters need to be relocated in any case as they encroach on the water flow and part of the cause of flooding and pollution to the river.  This is a problem that needs to be addressed regardless of the extent the river would be developed.

3.  The river is heavily polluted and needs to be cleaned. YES, this should be done anyway just for the fact that it currently is a health issue and it can greatly enhance quality of life in the city from being an open sewer to a wonderful scenic waterfront. 

4.  Once done this will require a lot of maintenance. YES, actually the more accessible the river become the easier it is to maintain both in terms of monitering and physical access to the river.  The constant movement of the boats along the river will further increase the oxygen level in the river and hence water quality. 

5.  This work is extremely expensive. YES, but so are the losses every day from traffic jam and the frequent flooding that brings the city to a stand still!  An amenity / recreation area running the full length of the city would have significant impact on the quality of life to all the residents which is difficult to quantify. Integrated Master Business Planning is essential to make this work. 

6.  It is a massive undertaking and will take a long time. YES, nothing good come cheap, easy or fast!  The political will needs to be strong and needs to have enormous popular support from all of Jakarta.  Maybe more importantly as long as the private property developers see this is economically viable they will buy in and be the cytalists.  Just looking at how the Singapore River or the Malacca River has been transformed and the value created for the property along the rivers, it shouldn't be a hard sell.    

WHAT WILL THIS ACHIEVE?  

1. Flood Control - Widening and deepening the river will greatly improve the holding capacity and run off of rain water during potential flood events.  This alone probably will not solve the issue of the 1 in 5 year flooding, but certainly should be a big factor in mitigating some of it. 
2. Urban Space / Views - It will provide a much needed aesthetic relief that connects throughout the city.  The watefront should be a combination of green belts and hard urban spaces.
3. Mass Transit Right of Way - It gives an already in place right of way for the river boat mass transit to run with no existing traffic.  Boat stations can be strategically placed to connect to land transport, busway and existing and future rail lines as well as commercial nodes.
4.  Corridor of Density - This becomes the ideal location spread across the city and beyond that will ideal for increased density of development for intense residential and supporting commercial facilities.
5.  Build Land Value to Finance the Development - The combination of all the above makes the river front ideal and valuable for development.  By government purchasing all the land from existing owners at present market value and rezoning it to higher density with quality amenties, the land should be able to finance the development and this is where conceptually the development should pay for itself.  This where the government by putting together ideas with legislation they can in essence "print money" for the good of the city.

 

Singapore River with Water Taxi

Development along the Malacca River

 

HOW CAN THIS BE DONE?

 

1. Government - Definitely this needs to have the government take the lead and perhaps with the assistance of some aid agency.  

2. Legislation - There needs to be some legislation to acquire all the necessary land and resettle people where necessary.  The legislation needs to be supported by the people so good communication needs to sell the beneifts to the greater Jakarta Community.

3. Integrated Master Planning - The overall plan and integration of mass transit needs to be done along with the strategic land use along the river development. (17.1 Integrated Master Planning for Destination Development - Part 1)

4. Economic Planning - The density needs to be sufficient to support the value required to finance the project and to support the existence of mass transit (see our earlier post 25.0 Jakarta Mass Transit, Development Planning and Economics)

5.  Public Private Partnership - In the case of Indonesia perhaps the private property developers have a better track record to build infrastructure.  Hence to cut up the project into different sections where building and delivering of public facilities could be part of the cost for the valuable adjacent land of high density.

So going back to the orignal thesis, it feels like a fully integrated solution to address both flooding and traffic and at the same time creating a really unique water front urban environment connecting the whole of Jakarta. 

 

Yes there are lots of techinical, political, environemntal issues to consider, but the capital city for the largest country in Southeast Asia needs some grand plans that start to address issues collectively. Hopefully with successful, this approach can also be further expanded to other smaller rivers thorughout the city.

 

 

Jiwa Studio, Singapore 
April 2013