BANDUNG- West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi personally intervened to resolve the ongoing issue of organizing street vendors along the Cicadas Street corridor in Bandung City. This step was taken after the Governor previously urged Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan to promptly address the prolonged public space order problem in the area.

Before the demolition execution began, Dedi Mulyadi first held a persuasive dialogue with Cicadas street vendor coordinator Amang Herman. During the meeting, both parties agreed on a plan to organize the pedestrian area and clean up dozens of semi-permanent kiosks that have long been blamed as the epicenter of congestion in East Bandung.

Going beyond mere eviction, Dedi Mulyadi also offered concrete solutions by providing new job opportunities for vendors affected by the execution.

“We have agreed to carry out a total reorganization. The kiosks will be dismantled and tidied up. In return, I will provide new job solutions for the street vendors here,” said Dedi Mulyadi during a direct site inspection in Cicadas on Monday (May 18).

According to Dedi, the job provision scheme is considered far more effective and realistic than conventional relocation plans that have stalled without significant progress. He emphasized that although regulations on clearing road space do not require compensation, the government must be present to provide an economic safety net.

“My focus is on providing solutions for their livelihood. Don’t let them be confused about where to go and lose their daily income after their stalls are dismantled,” he stressed.

The organization of the Cicadas area is crucial because the route will be integrated with the Greater Bandung Bus Rapid Transit mass transportation infrastructure project. With the sidewalk area cleared of illegal kiosks, the face of the Bandung City pedestrian corridor is expected to become green again and function optimally for pedestrians.

Shortly after the dialogue with the vendor coordinator concluded, the clearing instructions were massively executed. Based on on-site observations, one unit of heavy equipment was deployed to demolish wooden and tarp kiosk structures. Meanwhile, several vendors chose to cooperate by packing and moving their merchandise independently to areas away from the sidewalk.

Head of the West Java Provincial Satpol PP, Tulus Arifan, confirmed that this joint operation involved personnel from West Java Satpol PP, Bandung City Satpol PP, and local community protection officers. “This clearing is a direct follow-up to the Governor’s instruction to restore the fundamental function of sidewalks for pedestrians. This also continues the organization scheme previously initiated by the Bandung City Government,” explained Tulus.

As of 3:30 PM local time, Satpol PP recorded that at least 20 street vendor kiosks had been dismantled and leveled. This number is predicted to continue increasing as the cleaning operation is still scheduled for the next few days.

Tulus added that the complete data on the total number of kiosks subject to the organization will later be released in detail by the Bandung City Government as the authority holder for the area.

Cicadas Street

Cicadas Street, located in the city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is a small but culturally significant alleyway known for its vibrant street art and nostalgic atmosphere. Originally a quiet residential lane, it was transformed in the 2010s through community-driven mural projects that depict cicadas and other local wildlife, symbolizing the sounds of summer. The street has since become a popular tourist spot, celebrating the area’s heritage and the simple beauty of Taiwanese neighborhood life.

Bandung City

Bandung, the capital of West Java, Indonesia, is a city known for its cool climate and colonial architecture, earning it the nickname “Paris of Java.” Founded in the early 19th century by the Dutch, it became a center for plantation and cultural development, and later hosted the historic 1955 Asia-Africa Conference. Today, it remains a vibrant hub for education, fashion, and tourism, blending its colonial past with modern Indonesian culture.

Cicadas

The term “Cicadas” primarily refers to a large, iconic family of insects known for their distinctive, loud mating calls, which have been culturally significant for millennia. In ancient Greece, cicadas were symbols of immortality and resurrection, often depicted in art and mentioned in literature, such as in Plato’s *Phaedrus*. Today, they are celebrated in various cultures, particularly in East Asia, where their emergence is associated with the changing of seasons and is a common motif in poetry and art.

East Bandung

East Bandung refers to the eastern region of Bandung, Indonesia, a city known for its colonial-era architecture and cool climate. Historically, this area developed rapidly during the Dutch East Indies period as a center for tea, coffee, and rubber plantations, with many hillside villas built by European planters. Today, it is a popular destination for its scenic views, cultural heritage sites, and modern shopping and culinary attractions.

Greater Bandung Bus Rapid Transit

The Greater Bandung Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a public transportation system in Bandung, Indonesia, designed to alleviate traffic congestion and improve urban mobility. Launched in phases starting in 2015, it was developed as part of the city’s broader efforts to modernize its transit network, inspired by successful BRT models like TransJakarta. The system serves key routes across Greater Bandung, aiming to provide a reliable, efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to private vehicles.