The government’s move to implement cashless toll payments was initiated by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who aims to boost efficiency in the transportation sector by eliminating long lines at the toll gates.

However, challenges remain as e-toll penetration only reached 28 percent as of June this year, despite a massive campaign launched by all relevant stakeholders, including Bank Indonesia (BI), toll road regulatory agency (BPJT), BUJT and banks.

To encourage more people to use e-money in the forthcoming months, BI executive director of payment system policy and monitoring Eni V. Panggabean said based on a mutual agreement, banks would offer a 50 percent discount for new e-money card purchases.

“The discount will be offered from Aug. 17 to Sept. 30. That was the result of our agreement with the banks,” she said on Tuesday at the central bank in Jakarta.

Along with the promotion, people who use e-toll cards also get a 10 percent discount when passing toll roads managed by BPJT, BPJT head Hery Trisaputra Zuna, said.

Moreover, banks will also increase sales points for e-money at toll gates.

In the first leg of the campaign, Bank Indonesia will optimize the e-money services of Bank Mandiri (e-money), Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI Tapcash), Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Brizzi) and Bank Central Asia (Flazz BCA).

“We hope [Flazz] BCA can be used starting from September,” Aribowo, BI executive director of program transformation, said.

In the second leg, the central bank will encourage other private banks such as Bank Nobu and Bank Mega, as well as local administration-owned lender Bank DKI to join the bandwagon.

Ariwibowo hopes the e-money from these three banks can be used starting in December. The ultimate goal is to integrate cards from various issuers into one single card to allow interoperability between issuers in the future.

If the consortium of electronic toll collection (ETC) starts operating in December, Bank Indonesia will introduce a merchant discount business model. ETC is an institution that focuses on integrating data transactions and fee information for all road segments.

The central bank allows other banks, aside from those seven banks, to join the cause through two mechanisms. First, through co-branding, meaning that they can partner with other banks that have issued e-money. Second, through the sharing-fee method with lenders that have provided cashless payment systems at toll roads.

In the end, BI will implement multilane free flow as soon as the end of 2018.

Toll road operator Jasa Marga ensured it was ready for the national initiative.

“Since 2013, all of our toll gates have been ready for electronic transactions despite relatively low usage,” Mohammad Sofyan, Jasa Marga operational director, said.

He also emphasized that no toll booth officers would be laid off, as they would be transferred to other positions.

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