TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Police Traffic Director Sr. Comr. Sambodo Purnomo Yogo said his side rerouted traffic around Tanah Abang of Central Jakarta in order to prevent crowds. Recently, Tanah Abang Market saw a dramatic surge in the number of visitors leading to violation of health protocols.

“Traffic rerouting is carried out until Eid al-Fitr. [We will also] apply an ‘open and close’ system depending on the traffic congestion,” said Sambodo on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.

Other than the ‘open and close’ traffic system, the police will also implement traffic diversion. However, the two traffic systems are situational and depend on conditions at the location.

“There will be personnel deployed at times considered prone to congestion,” Sambodo added.

The traffic closure will be on Jalan Bongkaran, Petamburan heading to Tanah Abang, Jatibaru flyover, and the market's Blok G.

The city wholesale market was packed with thousands of visitors last Friday and Saturday as people trying to complete their holiday shopping before Eid al-Fitr. The police said they were overwhelmed to deal with the crowds.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan along with Regional Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mohammad Fadil Imran inspected the market on Sunday. They urged people not to focus on shopping only at Tanah Abang Market.

Read: Crowds in Tanah Abang Market; People Urged to Seek Alternatives for Eid Shopping

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH