T

he Public Works and Housing Ministry plans to close down the Karang Tengah toll gate in Tangerang, Banten, as it is deemed to be the cause of daily congestion on the Jakarta-Tangerang toll road.

“We have a plan to close the Karang Tengah gate. Basically, we are evaluating the plan to integrate Jakarta-Tangerang and Tangerang-Merak toll roads,” said Herry Trisaputra Zuna, head of the ministry’s Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency (BPTJ), on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

The gate is believed to cause long lines of vehicles along both roads during rush hours everyday, Herry added.

The ministry is now discussing how the toll road payment system will change if the plan is eventually implemented considering that the toll roads are currently managed by two toll road operators, PT Jasa Marga and PT Marga Mandalasakti (MMS).

“Perhaps, after the evaluation, we can integrate the payment system to reduce the long lines,” Herry said, adding that the result of the evaluation would be decided after the Idul Fitri mass exodus period was over. The period is predicted to end next week.