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Elevated railways only solution for Jakarta: Ahok
Vehicles stop when a train passes at a crossing in Permata Hijau, South Jakarta as workers look at the traffic below from an under-construction flyover
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span class="caption">Vehicles stop when a train passes at a crossing in Permata Hijau, South Jakarta as workers look at the traffic below from an under-construction flyover. The elevated road aims to ease congestion and minimize accidents at the railway crossing. (JP/P. J. Leo)
Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama has said that elevated railways, as originally planned for Jakarta, are the only solution to ease traffic congestion that is continuously worsening across the capital city.
'In its early design, the city should have developed elevated railways. Regrettably, however, it was the toll roads that were elevated,' the governor said in Jakarta on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com, adding that he did not know why the administration had not continued its elevated railway projects.
Ahok made the statement following a fatal accident on Sunday involving a commuter train and a city bus, which killed 18 people and wounded many others.
He expressed his hopes that the central government and state-owned railway operator PT KAI would revive plans to develop elevated railway networks like those in other countries.
According to the governor, elevated railways would help to prevent traffic accidents in the city, where residents lack discipline in abiding by traffic laws.
'Although there are many flyovers and underpasses, many Jakarta people prefer to cross [the road] anywhere. Therefore, elevated railways are the solution. There is no other choice,' he added.
Jakarta currently has one pair of elevated railway tracks from Manggarai in South Jakarta to Kota Station in Central Jakarta, while other major rail lines are laid on the ground. This contributes significantly to traffic congestion because there are many intersections of roads and train crossings.
Traffic congestion near road crossings has worsened in line with the increase of commuter train services. 'If all railways were elevated, it wouldn't matter even if commuter trains passed by every minute,' Ahok said.
Ahok said he would continue to help PT KAI by constructing more flyovers and underpasses so that more road crossings for trains could be closed. (bbn)
