Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono stated that the renovation includes ceramic replacement, repair of leaks, and improvement of the museum interior and layout.
"The Equator Monument renovation is ongoing and, God Willing, the works will be completed next December," Kamtono stated while visiting the statue renovation site here, Tuesday.
Apart from the museum hall, other structures, including an information centre, are also refurbished in the renovation project, the mayor remarked.
He revealed that next year, the municipal authority will continue the refurbishment project outside the main statue that includes the monument complex plaza, amphitheatre, parking lot, and culinary centres.
Kamtono affirmed that the monument complex will be developed as an art and cultural centre where performances and events can be organised routinely to increase the revenue of local MSMEs.
"We hope this statue would be monumental and regarded highly for the image of Pontianak City," the mayor stated.
The renovation is expected to bring about improvements to the statue as one of the main tourist attractions in the city, he remarked.
"We also hope that tourists would be more comfortable and stay longer at the Equator Monument, and more tourists would visit Pontianak," Kamtono remarked.
The Equator Monument, originally built by the Dutch in the 1920s, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Pontianak City.
Residents and tourists often flocked the monument during the zero-shadow day, when no shadow is cast due to the sun exactly in the zenith position, occurring twice a year, every March 21-23 and September 21-23 in the city.
Related news: West Kalimantan building equator park as tourism object
Related news: Equator Carnival can become new tourism icon for Pontianak: Minister
Translator: Andilala, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
