Howls of protest are mounting against a plan to construct six new elevated inner-city toll roads in Jakarta, with critics now saying the plan does not make any sense.

The Jakarta Transportation Council (DTKJ) has urged Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to scrap the plan, which was approved by his predecessor Fauzi Bowo, saying it will have no positive effect on eradicating the city’s traffic problems.

“Simply put, the plan will only encourage people to use private vehicles instead of public transportation. It leads us in the wrong direction,” DTKJ chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan told reporters at its office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

Azas said the project, predicted to cost Rp 42 trillion (US$4.3 billion) in total, would have a number of adverse effects, including worsening spatial management, more pollution and damage to environment and public health.
...