Progressive taxes will help solve city traffic problems, experts said

The authorities should impose progressive taxes on vehicles as soon as possible to solve Jakarta's traffic problems, rather than build more highways, experts said Thursday.  

Building more roads is an impractical and inefficient solution, said Nuzul Achjar, a researcher from the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Economy.

"Progressive taxes will help fund better public transportation facilities such as the MRT [Mass Rapid Transit] system," Nuzul said.

Tulus Abadi from the Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) said the building of more highways would only encourage more cars to flood Jakarta's streets.

"The government needs a strong political will to impose taxes and a sense of crisis to handle the current traffic problem," Tulus said.

According to him, the government is incapable of funding the MRT project without special tax schemes.

The government should also tighten the reins on the process of making driver's licenses, Tulus said. (dis)