T

he Jakarta Transportation Agency plans to reopen a roadworthiness test center in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, while also planning to introduce a new electronic registration system this year.

The center, which was used by a private company from 1992 to 2012, would have five tracks with the capacity for up to 500 vehicles a day.

'€œThe reopening of the center will help reduce the burden on other centers in Jakarta. With the five new tracks at the Jagakarsa center, we will have a total of 12 tracks to test emissions across the capital,'€ Agency head Andri Yansyah told reporters at his office on Jl. Jati Baru in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, recently.

He said that the city administration allocated Rp 40 billion (US$2.9 million) to renovate the Jagakarsa test center.

Currently, Jakarta has three test centers, one operating in Cilincing, North Jakarta, with two tracks, another in Pulogadung, East Jakarta, with more two tracks and the third in Ujung Menteng, Cakung, East Jakarta, with three more tracks.

Last year the city administration suspended a center in Kedaung Kali Angke, West Jakarta, after Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama inspected the center and found irregularities, including manual testing due to equipment malfunctions. Fraudulent practices in the testing process were deemed one of the key factors triggering traffic issues and air pollution in the capital.

Andri pointed out that the introduction of an e-registration system would also make it easier for residents who want to test their vehicles.

'€œIt can also lessen fraudulent practices,'€ he said, pointing out that the system had already been applied in the test center in Pulogadung.

Agency officials, however, have yet to set the exact date for the reopening of the center, pending legal matters.

Jakarta Transportation Agency'€™s vehicle emissions test center unit head Ismanto said that the city administration, through the Jakarta Financial and Asset Management Board (BPKAD), would still need to settle legal issues regarding the asset.

'€œWe expect parties involved to fulfill clauses in the contract immediately. The sooner the better because we want the center to be fully operational soon,'€ he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Ismanto said that the unit would temporarily manage the center after the reopening.

'€œThere is a possibility that the center will be operated by a private company, but it is not an urgent matter at the moment. What we want is to optimize this center,'€ he said.

Jakarta Transportation Council (DTKJ) chairwoman Ellen Tangkudung said that the current capacity of test centers in Jakarta was far from adequate.

'€œIt sure can help reduce the burden of the other centers, but we still need more. Jakarta needs at least 21 tracks to cope with the demand,'€ she said.