Traffic congestion is a common daily problem in Jakarta. President Joko Widodo revealed that this is caused by a 30-year delay in transportation infrastructure development in Jakarta.
President Joko Widodo expressed this view while inaugurating the Railway Depot in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi Province, on Wednesday, March 29th, 2023. According to Jokowi, the transportation system in Jakarta is almost 30 years behind schedule.
Although there is now one MRT line, the LRT has not yet been operational, leading to severe traffic congestion in the city throughout the day and night.
Jokowi also emphasized that most major cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, are behind schedule in developing their public transportation systems.
He explained that public transportation is essential to connect different regions and prevent the widespread use of private vehicles, which contribute to traffic congestion.
He stated, “Finally, there are traffic jams in all cities now, not just in Jakarta, but also in Bandung, Medan, Surabaya, Semarang, and even in Makassar, everything is congested because we are late in building public transportation.”
Jokowi is highly motivated to establish the Trans Sulawesi railway line, which is expected to connect Makassar to Manado in North Sulawesi. He believes that this new line will help alleviate traffic congestion in the city, as well as enhance the overall transportation system in the country.
“Although now it is only from Makassar to Parepare and what we now want to inaugurate this path from Maros to Baru. So this Makassar will go there later to Parepare,” He Said.
Jokowi’s goal is to continue improving Indonesia’s public transportation systems, with the hope of connecting the entire country. “Transportation infrastructure is vital for the development of our country, and we must prioritize its development,” he emphasized.
