It Is Appropriate For Jakarta To Return To Anywhere, The Congestion Index Is Now Above 50 Percent

Live in one corner of Jakarta City (Photo: DOK VOI)

JAKARTA - Traffic Director of Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Pol Latif Usman said that the congestion index in Jakarta currently has reached more than 50 percent at 7,800 kilometers of roads in the capital city. This was conveyed by Latif in the working meeting of Commission B of the DKI Jakarta DPRD with the ranks of the DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency. "We haven't calculated the congestion index yet, but my estimate is that since the end of 2022 it has been above 50 percent. This is our common concern on how the current situation is in Jakarta," said Latif at the DKI Jakarta DPRD Building, Tuesday, January 24. Latif said that the current traffic density condition in Jakarta was similar to what happened in 2019. At that time, the congestion index reached 53 percent. Based on the survey results of the British congestion monitoring agency TomTom, Indonesia also ranked 10 of the world's most congested cities in 2019. "Of course, if it is at 50 percent, it is very worrying. Moreover, at 50 percent, at 40 percent, Jakarta is no longer safe," he said. Until the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jakarta congestion index in 2020 fell to 36 percent. Then in 2021, the figure fell again at 34 percent. Latif said, the reduction in traffic density in the capital city occurred due to restrictions on community activities. Where, a number of activities must be closed, school learning is carried out online, and many people work from home (WFH). However, at the end of 2022, along with the government loosening restrictions and continuing with the revocation of PPKM, traffic jams at many points occurred again. "Community activity after mid-2022, starting last July we have experienced almost the same activity for ourselves in 2019," he explained. Meanwhile, the number of mobility movements in the capital city since 2022 has reached almost 22 million trips. Latif explained, this figure is calculated from the official 4 million Jakarta residents who left their homes plus 3.5 million buffer zone residents entering Jakarta. "The calculation is, on average, each person moves 3 times, leaves, goes home, maybe there are additions. So an average of 7 million people move. Each person moves at least 3 times, namely going to the office, going home to work, and doing other things in the job. So, about 7 million times 3 million so more than 21 million people move," he added.