Jokowi Complains of Traffic Congestion in Jakarta Greater Area

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo held a closed meeting with several ministers of Working Cabinet and governors of Jakarta, West Java, and Banten to address transportation management in Jakarta Greater Area (Jabodetabek).

Jokowi kicked off the session with his complaint about unending traffic congestion. “If the congestion is not managed well in Jabodetabek, it will create a more severe traffic jam,” said Jokowi in the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, January 8.

However, Jokowi believed the issue could be overcome with various public transportations such as MRT, LRT, Transjakarta, Airport Trains, and others. He then expected for better management of transportation means in Jabodetabek.

The President highlighted that many parties had responsibilities in the road sector, such as the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Jakarta administration, Banten administration, and West Java administration. Jokowi viewed that most of the road management is not integrated.

The former Jakarta Governor demanded public transportation in Jabodetabek be integrated. By the time they are connected, the public could be then encouraged to leave their private vehicles.

“Based on the National Development Planning Agency's (Bappenas) calculation that I receive each year, we loss Rp65 trillion in Jabodetabek due to traffic congestion,” Jokowi remarked.

The figure, Jokowi opined, was really great that it could be used for the infrastructure development. “If we could spend [the figure], it could become MRT, LRT within five years,” he added.

Several officials present in the meeting included Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Banten Governor Wahidin Halim, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, and Bappenas head Bambang Brodjonegoro.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI