Ocean escape readied for New Year in Ancol

JAKARTA. The Jakarta Police have prepared sea transportation routes as part of New Year celebrations at Ancol beach in North Jakarta as an alternative means of escape for VIP guests, should traffic jams on roads near the location refuse to be tamed.

“We are preparing six ships that will be stationed at three piers: two at ABC pier, two at Pantai Indah pier and two others at Putri Duyung pier,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Muhammad Iqbal said on Tuesday, as reported by tempo.co.

Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said previously that he would celebrate the New Year at Ancol Dream Land, while Deputy Governor Djarot Syaiful Hidayat was to celebrate at the National Monument (Monas) park.

Residents of Jakarta and surrounding areas could consider Ancol Dream Land as a center for New Year celebrations because the Jakarta administration will this year not erect stages along the city’s main thoroughfare of Jl. MH Thamrin, where residents are usually entertained with various attractions.

Ahok said his administration would not organize such an event as part of efficiency measures.

To anticipate an explosion in the number of visitors during the New Year celebration, Ancol Dream Land’s management has prepared parking facilities to accommodate some 15,000 cars, aimed at preventing visitors from parking along roadsides.

Aside from preparing the ocean escape routes, the police, in cooperation with Ancol Dream Land management, will establish health centers for visitors in need of medical help. “The main medical centers will be constructed in the area near the Bandar Jakarta restaurant,” Muhammad said, adding that smaller medical services would be established in other places.

When discussing his decision to celebrate the New Year at Ancol Dream Land, Ahok said he had not visited the city’s main beach attraction since being elected governor.

“It would be my first visit to Ancol,” he said as quoted by tribunnews.com on Tuesday.