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We are working to address traffic congestion: Ahok
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Cars are trapped in a long traffic jam along Jl. Sudirman in Jakarta even as the Transjakarta bus lane looks empty. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
J
akarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has said his administration is working to address traffic congestion by improving public transportation through the development of the light rail transit (LRT) and MRT systems, as well as by deploying more buses on bus rapid transit (BRT) lanes.
In addition, he said, he had also detailed traffic police to enforce an even-odd license plate policy that restricts when vehicles can use the main thoroughfares during peak hours.
“Now we’re working on it. Do we have an Aladdin [magic] contractor that could immediately mitigate the traffic jam?” he said at City Hall on Friday, calling on residents to be more patient as the work is in progress.
He admitted the bus procurement for PT Transjakarta took time because the administration engaged local bus assembly plants.
“Which one do you prefer: buying 3,000 buses from the other countries, or waiting for some time but ensuring our industry can live? Because of us, our bus assembly plants are alive now,” Ahok said.
Ahok said his administration purchased the buses from the Central Java towns of Ungaran, Kudus and Magelang, as well as from the East Java town of Malang.
Currently, PT Transportasi Jakarta (Transjakarta) operates 1,347 buses and plans to increase to 2,000 buses by the end of this year. (bbn)
