Capital City Relocation Not Solution to Jakarta: Gov Anies

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan opined the prospect of the relocation of Indonesia’s capital would not solve Jakarta's problems, including congestion. According to him, the largest contributor to congestion in the capital was not governmental activities.

“So the relocation of the capital city will not automatically alleviate congestion because the largest contributor to the matter in Jakarta is the household and private activities, instead of the administrative ones,” said Anies in Kenari Market, Salemba, Central Jakarta, Monday, April 29. 

Read: Bappenas: Govt May Need Rp446tn for Capital City Relocation

Anies explained private vehicles in the metropolis reached 17 million units, while state vehicles only amounted to 141,000. So if state civil servants (PNS) used their private vehicles, it would contribute 8 to 10 percent of the total vehicles in town.

“The component of government activities is very low. So [the planned relocation] will not contain traffic jam issues,” Anies added. 

Today, April 29, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo held a limited meeting on the plans to move the capital city. During the meeting, Jokowi decided to relocate the capital to outside Java Island. 

Read: Jokowi Prefers to Move Capital outside Java Island

The plan was based on congestion issues in Jakarta and its environment was considered no longer supporting the country due to flooding. Anies Baswedan said the central government was still canvassing the plans, and President Jokowi ordered Bappenas and the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry to further study the prospects.

For Anies Baswedan, the relocation of the capital city would only affect the governmental aspect, thus economic activities would remain in Jakarta.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA