SURBAYA. Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini admitted Monday to coming up with her own concept for the expansion of certain areas in Surabaya, including the former Dolly red-light district.

Risma had taken charge of the project without hiring consultants as she considers it to be a waste of hundreds of millions and perhaps billions of rupiah, as reported by kompas.com.

 “I created my own concept for the development [....] I don’t need advice from consultants, which could cost hundreds of millions, even billions of rupiah. If we can do this ourselves, why should we waste the country’s money,” she said after attending a plenary session of the Surabaya Legislative Council (DPRD) on Monday.

As recently reported, the Surabaya City Administration planned a series of development projects to increase its economic activities, one of which includes the localization of Dolly with the aim of reducing the illegal sex trade this year and instead be developed as an integrated center of economic pursuits.

Another area included in Surabaya’s development is transportation access surrounding East Surabaya as a means of reducing traffic in the city center. The city's eastern ring road will be integrated with that of East Sidoarjo’s as a buffer of Surabaya’s economic activities. (bcw)

Editor: Asnil Amri