Traffic congestion in Jakarta has become a growing concern, compelling the government to swiftly devise effective solutions. One proposed measure involves the adjustment of working hours in the city.
The Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, emphasized the importance of engaging all stakeholders in discussions on tackling traffic congestion.
He stated, “Various congestion solutions can be explored, including the suggestion of staggering employees’ arrival times in Jakarta between 8:00 and 10:00. This approach aims to alleviate the morning congestion caused by the high volume of vehicles entering the city, as highlighted by the Metro Jaya Regional Police Traffic Division.”
These sentiments were expressed by Heru during the opening of the “Addressing Traffic Congestion in DKI Jakarta” Forum Group Discussion (FGD), which was shared on the official YouTube channel of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. In his remarks, Heru underscored the need for collective input and evaluation of existing policies.
The concept of adjusting working hours received further attention as Heru elaborated on the discussions he had with the Chief of Police and the Traffic Division.
He mentioned, “Consideration was given to the influx of vehicles coming from areas such as Bekasi, Tangerang, and Depok towards Jakarta at around 6 o’clock, which is akin to a flood of vehicles.”
Heru highlighted that ideas, suggestions, and policy evaluations arising from these discussions would be brought to the Jakarta Transportation Council for further action. He emphasized the commitment of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government to continually alleviate traffic congestion through the implementation of innovative and well-received ideas.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had previously expressed his concern about the traffic congestion in Jakarta, attributing it to the uncontrolled growth of vehicles. The situation has resulted in pervasive gridlock throughout the city.
Furthermore, according to the Tomtom Traffic Index, Jakarta ranked as the 29th most congested city out of 390 cities across 56 countries worldwide.
The average travel time for a 10-kilometer distance in Jakarta is recorded as 22 minutes and 40 seconds, which represents an increase of 2 minutes and 50 seconds compared to the previous year.
The Tomtom Traffic Index also revealed the additional time required during peak hours in Jakarta, with an extra 11 minutes needed for a 10-kilometer journey in the morning and 18 minutes in the evening. These figures shed light on the challenging conditions commuters face and the urgency to address the issue comprehensively.
