"Yes, we support the trial to write-off the 3 in 1 policy which will be put in place tomorrow (Tuesday)," said Head of Sub Development and Law Enforcement Traffic Directorate of Polda Metro Jaya Assistant Commissioner of Police, Budiyanto, when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.
The Jakarta Provincial government will carry out the trial with effect from Tuesday, April 5, and will persist with it for the rest of the week.
Budiyanto said the 3-in-1 policy came into effect in 2003 in order to prevent the traffic congestion on the citys protocol corridor from Sisingamaraja Road, South Jakarta to the National Monument (Monas) area, located in the city center.
Though it was aimed at reducing traffic congestion, the policy also prompted a new social reality in the surrounding community as 3-in-1 jockeys came into being, people ready to sit in the car on payment basis to make one eligible to travel on the capitals main road.
However, the matter is now being addressed through joint cooperation with the Civil Service Police Unit officers (Satpol PP), based on local regulations (Perda).
Budiyanto hoped the trial results can be evaluated objectively to determine whether the 3-in-1 restriction policy can be continued or should be abolished.
Scrapping the policy is not a problem but the province should come up with other alternatives, such as the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) mechanism.
Budiyanto admitted that the policy was able to reduce the vehicle density empirically but had social implications.
The Electronic Road Pricing mechanism would require preparation of human resources, facilities and infrastructure devices to run the system, as well as legal protection.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
