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Jakarta plans to reimpose traffic policy once blamed for infections on public transit
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Traffic congestion on Jl. Sudirman, Jakarta, on March 16, 2020. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
J
akarta is considering reimposing the odd-even license plate policy for private cars as traffic returns. But concerns have grown that the policy might force people to shift to public transportation, which could lead to passengers overcrowding the transit networks, increasing the risk of coronavirus transmission.
The Jakarta Police traffic unit suggested to the city administration that the odd-even policy should return to the city streets, after recording an 11.5 percent increase in the number of vehicles on the roads during morning rush hour.
“This caused congestion in the morning,” Jakarta Police traffic director Sr. Comr. Sambodo Purnomo Yogo said last week as reported by kompas.com. “[So] we made the suggestion. But we need to discuss it with other institutions, [particularly] the transportation agency, [which is responsible for transportation policy].”
The odd-even policy restricts access to certain roads to cars with odd-numbered license plates on odd-numbered dates, while cars with even-numbered license plates can only access the roads on even-numbered dates. Before the pandemic, it was imposed on 25 thoroughfares across the capital from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Read also: Return of odd-even policy increases ridership, Jakarta Police say
The Jakarta Transportation Agency is still waiting for recommendations from the Jakarta Transportation Council (DTKJ), which is currently weighing whether the traffic curb is necessary, tempo.co reported.
Agency head Syafrin Liputo said that even if the policy was put back in place, it would not be implemented in 25 thoroughfares at once, but gradually on certain streets based on the severity of traffic congestion.
