TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Jakarta Transportation Agency, Muhammad Akbar, said that the electronic road pricing (ERP) in Sudirman begins on Tuesday, July 15, 2014. “All devices have been done and installed. It just needs checkin,” Akbar told reporters Monday, July 14, 2014.

For the first stages of trial, Akbar will install on-board unit (OBU) in a Transportation Agency’s car. Only a two cars will be installed by OBUs.

Akbar said the first week of trial is to test the device’s synchronization in gates with OBUs. OBU is one of the components in ERP, besides gates that are filled with sensors and back offices.

The trial will be perform for three months. He will also be giving 50 OBUs to every driver passing through Jalan Sudirman. However, offical cars will be prioritize to receive OBUs.

The rest will be given to people of Jalan Sudirman users. “We will also pick cars that often or passes by Jalan Sudirman everyday,” Akbar said.

The government of Jakarta are efforting to reduce jammings in the city’s capital, one of them is by applying ERP. In several European countries, ERP succeeded in reducing congestions. Even in Sweden ERP is able to depress congestions of up to 25 percent.

ERWAN HERMAWAN