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C.Java governor calls for more exit gates to avoid traffic congestion
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Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo (right) greets civil servants of the provincial administration in their first office day after the five-day Idul Fitri holiday during a gathering in Semarang on Monday. (thejakartapost.com/Suherdjoko)
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entral Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has called for the opening of more exit gates on toll roads that connect Jakarta to several areas across Central Java and West Java, so there will be no more traffic gridlock during Idul Fitri homeward journeys in the future.
“Building more exit gates can be an alternative solution to the heavy traffic gridlock we have continued to face during the Idul Fitri holidays. There should not be only one exit gate on the Palimanan-Pejagan-Brebes toll road because once we enter the toll road, we will be trapped in heavy traffic gridlock,” said Ganjar on the sidelines of an Idul Fitri gathering with civil servants of the provincial administration in Semarang recently.
The governor was speaking in response to the massive traffic jams that occurred at the East Brebes exit gate in Central Java during this year’s Idul Fitri holidays. Twelve travelers were reported to have died during the congestion.
Ganjar promised he would investigate the traffic gridlock at Brebes to uncover the exact causes of the deaths of the travelers. “We have assigned the Health Agency to investigate further the case. Was it true that the [travelers’ deaths] were caused by exhaustion after being stuck in the massive gridlock for hours? It is doctors that must clarify this issue,” said Ganjar.
The governor further said related authorities should have anticipated the impact of possible traffic gridlock on the toll road by preparing facilities such as rest areas, filling stations and health posts.
“They should have not opened this toll road without making adequate preparations. Last year, when the toll road was not yet finished, there was not such massive gridlock. But with this new toll road, it occurred. This was because everybody wanted to use the toll road because they thought they could reach Central Java from Jakarta in only 4.5 hours,” said Ganjar. (ebf)
