Despite Reaping Rejection, Researchers Call ERP An Effective Way To Reduce The Number Of Private Vehicles In Jakarta

JAKARTA - Plans to implement a paid road system or electronic road pricing (ERP) in Jakarta continue to receive resistance, especially from online transportation driver groups.

On the other hand, experts consider ERP to be an effective way to reduce the number of private vehicles driving in the capital city. Bearing this in mind, the government cannot intervene by limiting the purchase of its citizens' vehicles.

"ERP is a policy breakthrough to reduce private vehicles. The reason is that controlling the use of motorized vehicles must be implemented. Of course, this policy is implemented in order to reduce congestion and pollution in Jakarta," said Trend Asia researcher Andri Prasetiyo to journalists, Wednesday, February 8.

Meanwhile, Campaigner for Urban Greenpeace Indonesia, Muharram Atha Rosyadi said, the number of private vehicles in Jakarta is indeed one of the main sources of congestion and emissions from the transportation sector.

Even so, the implementation of ERP must be accompanied by the implementation of improvements to public transport services. Because, if this is not done, this policy seems to favor groups that have the ability to pay only.

"This means that there needs to be a priority on improvements to the public transportation sector and pedestrian facilities where the option to switch from private vehicles is also provided by the government. Not to mention talking about limiting the number of vehicles upstream," said Muharram.

What must also be considered, the implementation of paid roads must also be reliable in terms of service quality, vehicles, and timelines. Thus, the ERP policy paradigm does not become a policy tool for making profits.

"Indeed, in many cases in other countries, it is indeed claimed to be effective as a form of social engineering so that people reduce the use of private vehicles," he said.

A draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) on Electronic Traffic Control (PL2SE) which regulates paid roads has been prepared. Pemprov and DPRD DKI have also held initial discussions regarding the contents of the draft regional regulation, but discussion of article by article has not yet been carried out.

The ERP implementation plan in Jakarta has drawn resistance from community groups. A number of online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers held a demonstration in front of the DKI DPRD Building and DKI Jakarta City Hall.

The ojol action at the DKI City Hall yesterday was visited by the Head of the DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency Syafrin Liputo. Syafrin was asked to clarify plans for implementing electronic road pricing (ERP).

Initially, Syafrin answered diplomatically about the demands of the mass action. Syafrin said that the DKI Provincial Government would follow up on two demands of ojol, namely reviewing the PL2SE Raperda and excluding online transportation from vehicles included in ERP payments.

That answer did not satisfy the masses of ojol. Syafrin finally admitted that he would submit a withdrawal that his party would withdraw the P2LSE Raperda from the Regional Regulation Formation Agency (Bapemperda) DPRD DKI. Thus, the Raperda P2LSE will not be included in the discussion agenda this year.