Bekasi to Spend Rp67 Billion to Relieve Congestion Issues

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of Bekasi's Transport Agency, Yayan Yuliana, said that the severe congestion near Pondok Gede - which lies near the border of Jakarta and Bekasi - is mainly caused by the lack of a public transportation system that is easily accessible by commuters in the area, which often leaves residents' with no choice but to rely on private means of transportation.

"The closest Transjakarta bus stop is located in Pinang Ranti in East Jakarta," said Yayan on Sunday, September 27, 2015. According to him, residents of Pondok Melati, Jatisampurna, and Pondok Gede are forced to rely on their own cars and motorcycles because the majority of residents in the areas work in Jakarta.

As a result, congestion in Pondok Gede is nothing but a daily occurrence - which is worsened by the narrow width of the Jatiwaringin Overpass that bisects the Jakarta-Cikampek Tollway. A mere eight meters wide, the overpass can no longer accommodate the ever-growing number of cars and motorcycles that traverse the area. "The road itself is wide enough, but the narrow overpass causes a bottleneck that in turn, causes traffic jams," said Yayan.

As such, Yayan has welcomed tha government's plan to double the overpass' width to 16 metres - which is hoped to resolve the bottlenecking, and as such, improves the flow of traffic between Jakarta and Bekasi from Kalimalang. "This is one of our efforts to ease congestion in the area," he said.

Yayan added that his officials are currently mulling to establish other modes of public transportation that could be utilised as a feeder for the light-rail transit (LRT) that is currently being constructed, in order to help reduce the residents' dependence on private vehicles. It is known that a LRT station is set to be constructed in Jatibening, which is located some two kilometres away from Jatiwaringin.

The Head of Public Service and Water Management for Bekasi, Tri Adhianto, said that the government has set aside some Rp67 billion to expand the overpass in Jatiwaringin - consisting of Rp10 billion from Bekasi's City Budget, Rp27 billion from West Java's Budget, and Rp30 billion from Jakarta's City Budget.

ADI WARSONO