Waka Commission III of the DPR asks for congestion and ODOL trucks on the Jakarta-Tangerang Toll Road to be handled immediately

Illustration. (Photo: Dok. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Moh. Rano Alfath, asked officials and related institutions to immediately take concrete steps in overcoming the severe congestion on the Jakarta-Tangerang toll road which is increasingly disturbing the public.

This was said by Rano in response to the proliferation of trucks taking the right lane as well as over dimension and overloading (ODOL) practices that endanger the safety of road users.

From public reports, Rano revealed that a number of trucks often use the right lane, which should be reserved for light vehicles to precede, thus triggering a slowdown in traffic, the potential for accidents, and long traffic jams, especially during rush hours.

"I received many complaints from the public regarding trucks that freely take the right lane on the Jakarta-Tangerang Toll Road. This is about the safety of road users. The right lane is not for heavy vehicles to walk slowly," Rano told reporters, Saturday, February 14.

He also highlighted the existence of trucks with excess loads and dimensions that do not comply with standards (ODOL) that are still free to operate. According to him, this practice not only violates the rules, but also accelerates the damage to road infrastructure and increases the risk of fatal accidents.

"We have long talked about ODOL discipline, but in practice it still happens. Law enforcement should not be half-hearted. If there is a violation, there must be real consequences," said Rano.

The PKB legislator also assessed that some truck drivers were impressed by the electronic toll system (ETLE), as if there was no deterrent effect. Rano asked the Indonesian National Police to strengthen the implementation of ETLE, ensure that sanctions are really enforced, and conduct an evaluation if there are gaps in the surveillance system.

"If ETLE has been implemented, then make sure that the enforcement is transparent and firm. Do not let there be a perception that violations can be ignored without consequences," said Rano.

Ahead of Ramadan, where community mobility tends to increase, Rano encourages preventive measures through measured traffic engineering. Options that can be considered include limiting the operating hours of heavy vehicles at certain times, intensive surveillance at vulnerable points, and regular patrols to ensure trucks do not use the right lane.

The head of the legal commission also asked for a more solid coordination between the Police, the Ministry of Transportation, and toll road managers so that the policies taken are not partial, but integrated and sustainable.

Furthermore, Rano expressed his confidence that the ranks of the National Police together with related institutions were able to move quickly to resolve this issue.

"I believe that Korlantas and the National Police have adequate capacity and instruments to discipline this violation. It remains to be seen how supervision is tightened and law enforcement is carried out consistently. The public is waiting for concrete steps, and I believe that the police can respond quickly and proportionately," he explained.

With the increasing flow of vehicles ahead of Ramadan, Rano hopes that the quick and decisive steps of law enforcement officers and policy makers will be able to reduce the potential for congestion and ensure the safety of all road users on the Jakarta-Tangerang toll road.

"We cannot let this unrest linger. The state must be present to ensure that toll roads are safe, orderly, and function as they should. Commission III will continue to monitor that law enforcement is effective and provides a sense of security for the community," he concluded.