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Jakarta to extend odd-even policy on major thoroughfares
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Jakarta Police officers explain the odd-even license plate policy to a motorist near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on July 27, 2016. (Antara Foto/Muhammad Adimaja)
The government is set to test an expanded odd-even license plate policy on all major thoroughfares in the city on Monday.
The policy, which regulates that cars with license plates ending in odd numbers are only allowed to travel in certain zones on odd-numbered dates and vice versa, will be implemented on all major roads from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day for two weeks.
Greater Jakarta Transportation Body (BPTJ) head Bambang Prihartono said the extreme measure was necessary to ensure the smoothness of athletes’ traveling times during the Asian Games in August and September.
"We will apply it from the morning until the evening in line with the athletes' mobility," he added on Tuesday.
The policy aims to alleviate traffic woes in Jakarta, which will co-host Asia's most prestigious sporting event for the first time in five decades.
The Olympic Council of Asia has set the traveling time of athletes between venues to not exceed 34 minutes. During the test event in February, it took more than 50 minutes to travel from the athletes village to Gelora Bung Karno sporting complex.
The regulation has already come into effect on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin during the morning and afternoon rush hour. The expansion will affect Jl. S Parman in West Jakarta, Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta, as well as Jl. DI Pandjaitan, Jl. Ahmad Yani and Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in East Jakarta.
In South Jakarta, it will be applied to Arteri Pondok Indah, from the Kartini to Kebayoran Baru intersections. It will also affect Jl. HR Rasuna Said.
In Central Jakarta, the rule will affect Jl. Benyamin Sueb in Kemayoran.
The BPTJ has cooperated with the Jakarta Transportation Agency to prepare 204 buses to carry affected passengers traveling on those roads.
"The number of buses is provisional. We may add more if needed because we have 650 available," the agency’s head, Andri Yansyah, said.
