"The other day, Mr. Governor (Pramono Anung) sent a letter to the central government, urging relevant ministries to help identify solutions to this problem," Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He pointed out that the central government is undertaking two national strategic projects along the busy road, while the provincial government is managing three projects.
"We have three projects along the avenue, in addition to two others managed by the central government. That means five projects are concentrated in one location. No wonder we are struggling with heavy traffic," Rano noted.
To ease congestion, he highlighted that the provincial government had devised several initiatives, including a plan to temporarily convert sidewalks into lanes for motorized vehicles at seven points.
"We found it necessary to sacrifice some sidewalks temporarily. Not all sidewalks, but only a few meters of them, to ease traffic," he explained, while stressing that Jakarta still requires central government intervention, as the measure alone has been deemed ineffective.
The deputy governor added that the administration also intends to evaluate the continuation of excavation works, such as the development of a wastewater treatment plant by the city-owned wastewater management company, Palijaya.
Other plans include transforming vacant areas into temporary stops for public transportation to prevent roadside pick-ups and drop-offs that worsen traffic, as well as collaborating with Google and other navigation platforms to provide residents with updates on ongoing projects and alternative routes.
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Translator: Lia W, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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