TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Traffic to be rerouted during Saudi king’s visit

Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, March 1, 2017

Share This Article

Change Size

Traffic to be rerouted during Saudi king’s visit Drivers inspect the cars that will be used for the Arab Saudi Delegates during their visit to Indonesia in Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, February 28, 2017.around 1500 entourage will be accompanying King Salman of Arab saudi during his visit tommorow. (JP/Seto Wardhana)

Jakarta commuters should be prepared for even worse traffic congestion in some areas of the city over the next three days.

Not because of heavy rains or political rallies, the usual causes of increased traffic jams, but rather as a result of the state visit of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the capital from Wednesday to Friday.

Road users, particularly those traveling on arterial roads in Kuningan and Senayan, both in South Jakarta, as well as Sawah Besar in Central Jakarta, are advised to seek alternative routes.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the 81-year-old king, who is bringing along an entourage of 112 people, comprising seven ministers and 19 princes among others, will visit the State Palace in Bogor, West Java, immediately after his arrival at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta around Wednesday noon.

Earlier, State Secretary Pramono Anung said that King Salman would bring around 1,500 people comprising 10 ministers, 25 princes and many investors.

The entourage, Argo said, would use the Jagorawi toll road to reach the palace before heading to three five-star hotels, namely the Raffles, JW Marriott, and Ritz-Carlton, all in the Kuningan area, where they will stay during their visit to Jakarta.

“Routes to be used by the entourage will be cleared when they pass,” Argo said. “There will be more than 2,000 military and police personnel to safeguard King Salman’s visit to Jakarta,” he continued.

In addition, around 200 Bogor Police traffic unit officers will be deployed to secure King Salman’s visit to Bogor, said head of the unit, Comr. Bramstyo Priaji, as reported by tribunnews.com.

(Read also: Police to deploy 10,000 personnel to secure King Salman's visit)

Separately, state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga said it would close access to the Jagorawi toll road from Bogor on Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. to clear the road.

“Motorists looking to go to Bogor can use alternative toll gates such as Sentul Selatan and Ciawi,” the company said in a statement.

As part of his month-long tour of Asian countries, King Salman and his entourage are slated to stay in Jakarta until Friday before flying to Bali for a holiday until March. 9.

On Thursday, he is scheduled to visit the House of Representatives in Senayan and the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Central Jakarta, to perform sunnah prayers.

Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesperson Col. Inf. Bedali Harefa said 7,084 TNI personnel would be deployed to secure the King and his entourage during his visit to Indonesia.

Drivers in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday inspect the cars that will be used by a Saudi Arabian delegation during a visit to Indonesia. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud brought a 1,500-member entourage to Indonesia.

 

Your Opinion Counts

Your thoughts matter - share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank you

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.