Malang’s Gadang Market Faces Urgent Overhaul Amid Traffic and Sanitation Woes

Malang, East Java – Pasar Gadang, a bustling economic hub in Malang, is in dire need of serious attention as persistent issues of traffic congestion, crumbling infrastructure, and poor waste management continue to plague the area. Potholed roads, worsened by heavy rain and poor drainage, create severe traffic bottlenecks, while haphazard loading and unloading activities and illegally parked public transport vehicles exacerbate the chaos. Despite annual road repairs, the lack of an effective drainage system and indiscriminate waste disposal by traders, particularly fish vendors, accelerate asphalt deterioration, rendering maintenance efforts futile. Piles of garbage, coupled with inadequate waste management facilities, create a foul stench that deters shoppers and commuters alike.

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Since 2024, the Malang City Government has planned to relocate traders to the nearby Hamid Rusdi Terminal to alleviate these issues, but the initiative has stalled. Many traders resist the move, fearing a loss of customers, leaving the relocation plan in limbo without clear solutions. The challenges at Pasar Gadang extend beyond infrastructure and traffic, impacting the economic livelihoods of traders. Without decisive policies and concrete action, the market’s problems risk becoming a persistent blight.

In a significant step toward addressing these concerns, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the Malang City Government began initial efforts to revamp Pasar Gadang by demolishing the market’s Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) office. Malang Mayor Wahyu Hidayat, who personally oversaw the demolition, emphasized that this marks the start of a broader revitalization plan for the market. He highlighted chronic issues, including near-constant congestion caused by street vendors occupying roads and the rapid deterioration of infrastructure due to improper waste disposal. “Every year, we allocate funds for maintenance, but there’s no permanent solution,” Wahyu said. The city plans to relocate 686 roadside stalls to a temporary site on the southern side of the market as part of the restructuring.

The revitalization aims to create a cleaner, safer, and more orderly environment, potentially positioning Malang as an ideal city for a “slow living” lifestyle in the future. However, the success of this ambitious plan hinges on the government’s ability to balance infrastructure improvements with the economic needs of traders and the comfort of residents.

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