TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono would ask city-owned bus operator PT Transjakarta to increase the number of buses in a bid to reduce the capital’s congestion index.

“There's always traffic jams. I'll ask the board of directors of TransJakarta to add [buses],” said Heru Budi after inspecting the child-friendly public places (RPTRA) Triputra Persada in North Jakarta, Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

Additional buses were expected to help relieve congestion and encourage people to switch from using private vehicles to public transportation.

Previously, Metro Jaya Police’s Traffic Director Senior Commissioner Latif Usman said the vehicle mobility in Jakarta had returned to normal to pre-COVID-19 pandemic based on the congestion index.

“In 2019, Jakarta's congestion index is already 53 percent. When [the figure] reaches 50 percent, of course, it is very worrying. It means that Jakarta is no longer comfortable [to live by],” said Latif during a joint meeting with Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) Commission B on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

He outlined that the city’s congestion index in 2020 was around 36 percent because people's mobility was limited in the wake of the pandemic. The number then kept declining to 34 percent in 2021.

In the first quarter of 2022, the congestion index in Jakarta increased again to nearly 50 percent.

“In 2017, we were declared the fourth most congested city in the world. In 2021, we were ranked 46th because of the pandemic. In 2022, we cannot calculate it yet, but I predict it at above 50 percent,” said Latif Usman.

MUTIA YUANTISYA

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