DENPASAR ~ The demolition of 14 shops in Jl. Gajah Mada and Jl. Kartini began last week to make way for a ‘culture zone’, an official said.

According to Denpasar Planning Department official Made Kusuma Diputra, the plans have been in the works for some time and it was now time to begin their implementation.

“We have begun to carry out the plans and estimate the demolition will be done in the next month,” Diputra said.

He said in place of the shops, a building to support a long-standing temple and a planned walled garden would be built.

Diputra said the budget for the culture zone project was Rp550 million (US$55,000), but it could be decreased depending on the contractor who won the building contract.

“This is our ceiling number and could be less later,” he said.