Medan has a population of about 2.5 million people, making it the largest city in Sumatra. The city has ambitious plans to build an LRT system and expand the airport into a regional hub. It also has a historic city centre that is being renovated.
Here is a list of construction and transport projects in Medan, Indonesia.
Medan Map
[Map of Medan construction and transport projects.]
Construction
Centre Point Medan (completed)
Location: Jl. Jawa No.8, Gg. Buntu, Kec. Medan Tim., Kota Medan.
Website: centrepoint.co.id
News: skyscrapercity.com
Centre Point Medan is a “Superblock” mixed-use development on the east side of the central railway station. The development includes a mall, hotels, apartments, offices, medical centre, and shophouses.
Podomoro City Deli Medan (completed)
Location: Jalan Putri Hijau No.1 OPQ, Kesawan, Kec. Medan Bar., Kota Medan.
Website: podomorocitydelimedan.com
Developer: Agung Podomoro Land.
News: skyscrapercity.com
Podomoro City Deli Medan is a Superblock development built on 5.2 hectare of land. The development comprises apartment and condominium towers, an office tower, DeliPark Shopping Mall, an outdoor lifestyle area called Rivapark & Hotel.
Podomoro City Deli Medan news
The first smart office building in Medan with direct access to luxurious mall (Press Release) – [26/07/21]
Merdeka Square Renovation
Merdeka Square (Lapangan Merdeka) is a public square in the city centre opposite the central railway station. A cultural centre is being built underground, which requires most of the square to be excavated. The old trees that surround the park and being retained, and the open space will be restored.
[Images via detik.com.]
Merdeka Square Renovation news
Notification Ignored by Mayor, Medan residents officially sues Merdeka Square Revitalization – [03/0723]
“Two professors, one teacher and four local residents sued the Mayor of Medan regarding the revitalization of Medan Merdeka Square which was considered to have damaged cultural heritage. The project only prioritizes commercial areas and parking lots.”
Gov’t kicks off Merdeka Square renovation in Medan – [07/07/22]
“…the main concept of the Merdeka Square renovation is the preservation of historic city space and the dynamics of contemporary urban design. The renovation will maintain the old tree and the character of the open field to preserve its historical significance and cultural heritage value.”
Liberating Medan Merdeka Square – [16/04/22]
“Amid the city bustle, Miduk described the very worrying condition of Merdeka Square. He pointed at the permanent buildings standing along the western side of the square, which have become the Merdeka Walk snack center.”
Bobby Nasution doesn’t want revitalization of Medan Merdeka Square to lose traders – [19/02/22]
Medan Old Town Redevelopment
News: skyscrapercity.com
The city of Medan began the redevelopment of the Kesawan Old Town area (Medan Old Town) in October 2022. The old town is near Merdeka Square and it has the best colonial-era buildings in the city. The streets are being repaved to be more pedestrian-friendly, and more trees are being planted in the selected area.
Jalan Ahmad Yani is the main street of the old town area that has the most old buildings. Wikipedia has a good list of colonial buildings in Medan.
Medan Old Town Redevelopment news
Reviving Medan as “Parijs van Sumatra” – [10/02/23]
“The Merdeka Square has since long an integrated area with the city hall, post office, train station, banking office, hotels and commercial centers in the Kesawan area, many hailing the city as “Parijs van Sumatra”.”
Medan’s Kesawan old town revamped into a heritage tourist site – [05/10/22]
“”The revamping of the downtown area of Kesawan Old Town, which has kicked off, is an effort to realize a heritage tourism field,” said Medan City’s Tourism Office head Agus Suriyono said on Tuesday, October 4.”
Revitalization Of Medan’s old city area, Bobby Nasution wants about drainage flow – [24/03/22]
Warenhuis Building Revitalization
Conservation of historic buildings in the city of Medan (case study: Building warenhuis) – [19/07/23]
Warenhuis Medan historical building revitalization is auctioned this month – [13/02/23]
“The Warenhuis building, which is included in the Kesawan Old Town area, will later become an expo center, especially for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and creative young people as well as culinary activities.”
Revitalization of the ex-Warenhuis of Medan through a historic urban landscape approach
D G L Hasibuan and I Fitri 2021 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 780 012067
Manhattan Times Square (completed)
Location: Jl. Gatot Subroto No.217, Sei Sikambing B, Kec. Medan Sunggal, Kota Medan.
Website: manhattan-timessquare.com
Manhattan Time Square is a shopping mall with 2 x 40-floor apartment towers.
Little India Revitalization
Kampung Madras is the Little India of Medan. The Little India Gate was inaugurated in 2018 next to the Mariamman Temple on Jl. KH. Zainul Arifin. A report in 2017 recommended turning the Pagaruyung area into a tourist destination.
Further reading: Little India in Medan, Indonesia, hides its cultural roots well, so assimilated are the people – but look hard enough in Kampung Madras and you’ll find them.
Transport
Medan Light Rail Transit
The Medan Light Rail Transit (called LRT Mebidangro) is a proposed light rail transit system with three lines.
Read more about the proposed Medan LRT.
Medan-Binjai Elevated Railway
There is currently a commuter train between Medan and Binjai. The 21.7-km elevated railway will provide faster and more frequent services between the two cities. This is an extension of the Kualanamu to Medan line.
Minister Sumadi reviews construction of Medan-Binjai elevated railway – [24/09/22]
Government to extend airport railway track to Binjai – [20/07/16]
“The government has instructed PT Railink, the operator of the rail line connecting Kualanamu International Airport and Medan in North Sumatra, to extend the railway track farther west to the city of Binjai.”
Kualanamu International Airport
Kualanamu International Airport opened in July 2013, replacing Polonia International Airport in Medan. The airport is located in Deli Serdang Regency, 23 kilometres east of central Medan, and it is served by a railway from the airport to Medan Railway Station.
In 2021 it was announced that the airport plans to expand into a regional mega hub, rivaling Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesia’s $6bn airport bid to rival Singapore raises eyebrows – [22/12/21]
“Plan to turn North Sumatra airport into hub servicing 50 million passengers prompts transparency, feasibility concerns.”
Indonesia aims to rival Changi, Kuala Lumpur in $6bn airport deal – [04/12/21]
“Sumatra airport focal point of new partnership with Indian and French firms.”
Railways
The Trans-Sumatra Railway is a plan to connect the length of Sumatra by railway. There is currently a railway from Medan to Rantau Prapat. This line will be extended to Pekanbaru. Another line is planned to connect Medan to Banda Aceh.
There is currently a line from Medan to Siantar. It has been proposed to extend this line to Parapat for Lake Toba.
Medan News
Prevent floods, Medan City government begins to fix drainage along 16 thousand meters – [26/07/23]
Construction Updates
Trip Report: Medan
An airport train. the massive main square redevelopment, Jakarta-style Superblocks arrive, and the rejuvenation of the old city area that could put Medan on the tourist map.
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