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Greater Jakarta sees bumpy road to future of public transit
Severe traffic congestion has prompted the government to improve urban mobility in Greater Jakarta by encouraging more people to switch from private vehicles to mass transit. But the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak is undeniably hindering this agenda, with demand for public transit slumping in recent months as a result of social distancing and fears of contagion.
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An officer reminds Commuter Line passengers to maintain physical distance at Bekasi Station, on the outskirts of Jakarta, on June 9. (Antara/Fakhri Hermansyah)
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evere traffic congestion has prompted the government to improve urban mobility in Greater Jakarta by encouraging more people to switch from private vehicles to mass transit.
But the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak is undeniably hindering this agenda, with demand for public transit slumping in recent months as a result of social distancing and fears of contagion.
Yet, despite the unforeseen impacts, the authorities are sticking with their plan to increase ridership by 2029.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi is aware that fear of contagion has discouraged people from public transit.
"Therefore, the government is trying hard to restore [the demand for public transit] by ensuring the availability of various modes of transportation and enforcing health protocols at departure, during travel and upon arrival," Budi said in a public discussion on Wednesday.
The health crisis has hit public transit companies hard. State-owned Commuter Line operator PT KCI recorded a 70 percent decrease in the number of passengers in April, while city-owned operators of MRT trains and Transjakarta buses each reported a 90 percent drop in ridership in the same month.
Public transit ridership slowly increased after the Jakarta administration allowed businesses to gradually reopen starting in June. Yet, operators have cut passenger capacity to maintain safe distances between passengers during the outbreak.
