Jakarta. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said on Sunday that the city will begin dismantling more than 100 massive concrete pillars left behind by a long-abandoned monorail project, ending a two-decade blight on several of the capital’s main thoroughfares.

The demolition is scheduled to begin on Jan. 14 and will be carried out by the Jakarta Public Works Department, Pramono said.

The monorail project was launched in 2004 but stalled just three years later due to funding problems and disputes among the project’s developers. Construction briefly resumed in 2013 before collapsing again over corporate disagreements, leaving rows of unfinished concrete pillars scattered across key roads.

Since then, the structures have reduced road capacity, posed safety risks, obstructed urban development, and degraded the city’s visual landscape.

Pramono said the city has allocated Rp 100 billion (about $6 million) not only for dismantling the pillars but also for broader road and environmental improvements, particularly along Jalan Rasuna Said.

“I want to clarify that the Rp 100 billion budget is not just for tearing down the pillars,” Pramono said. “If it were only demolition, the cost would be far lower. The budget also covers road repairs, sidewalks, and area beautification.”

Pramono said he plans to invite former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso, under whose leadership the monorail pillars were first built, to attend the demolition.

“The monorail pillars built since 2004 will finally be dismantled. I hope Bang Yos can sleep more peacefully knowing this abandoned project will no longer be a burden,” Pramono said, referring to Sutiyoso by his nickname.

Urban planning observer Sugiyanto said the actual cost of dismantling the pillars alone would be relatively modest, estimating it at around Rp 300 million.

“There is a misconception that dismantling 109 monorail pillars costs Rp 100 billion,” Sugiyanto said. “In reality, that figure reflects the total cost of an integrated revitalization of the Rasuna Said corridor.”

He said standard concrete demolition costs range from Rp 400,000 to Rp 600,000 per cubic meter. With an estimated volume of three to five cubic meters per pillar, the total demolition volume would reach about 300 to 500 cubic meters.

“Even using the highest rate and maximum volume, the demolition cost would not exceed Rp 300 million,” he said.

The broader Rp 100 billion budget includes sidewalk reconstruction, accessibility features for people with disabilities, lighting, seating, greenery, drainage upgrades, and integrated utility improvements. Road resurfacing, pothole repairs, and traffic engineering measures for driver safety are also part of the package.

“If all these elements are combined into a single area revitalization project, the Rp 100 billion estimate is both logical and reasonable,” Sugiyanto said.

Separately, Heru Suwondo, head of Jakarta’s Public Works Department, said the demolition schedule had been accelerated from the original plan.

“We are ready to begin dismantling the pillars and restoring Jalan Rasuna Said,” Heru said, adding that 98 abandoned monorail pillars are located along the road. He did not specify how long the demolition work would take.

Heru said the project will be fully funded by the Jakarta city budget. In addition to Jalan Rasuna Said, abandoned monorail pillars are also located along Jalan Asia Afrika, though the initial phase of demolition will focus on Rasuna Said.

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