Jakarta Mulls to Close Inner Ring Road during Asian Games 2018

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency (BPTJ) Bambang Prihartono suggested permanent and situational closure of Jakarta inner ring road during the Asian Games 2018. BPTJ and other institutions are still discussing the period of closure trial which is expected to be effective in early August.

Bambang said the purpose is to maintain the travel time of Asian Games athletes from athlete’s dorm in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, to a number of game locations.

According to the BPTJ head, the policy of extending private vehicle restrictions based on the odd-even policy on the arterial roads cannot guarantee the travel time. Moreover, some of the motorists who cannot pass the odd-even area are suspected to move to the toll road circling Jakarta (Jakarta inner ring road).

Read: Vehicles Limited During 2018 Asian Games to Reduce Pollution

“With the odd-even policy, the speed in the arterial road increases, but it turns out that some [vehicles] have moved to the toll road,” said Bambang, Thursday 19 July.

The 18th Asian Games will take place from August 18 to September 2 in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra. The Asian Olympic Council (OCA) targets the athlete’s travel time from the dorm to the game arena will no longer than 34 minutes.

BPTJ has set up various strategies to break the congestion in Jakarta from the expansion of the odd-even policy, the special lane of athlete’s vehicles on the toll road, and the restrictions on III-V trucks on several toll roads. 

GANGSAR PARIKESIT