Pramono is set to open the Transjabodetabek route from Blok M-Bandara and Cawang-Jababeka.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung (Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung revealed plans to open a number of new Transjabodetabek routes to meet the increasing need for cross-regional mobility. Two priority routes are Blok M - Soekarno Hatta Airport and Cawang - Jababeka.

According to Pramono, the Blok M-Airport route is an urgent need based on the Transportation Office's report. The high level of community activity to and from the airport is considered to require more integrated public transportation support.

"Regarding Transjabodetabek, we will indeed open new routes, the first of which is from Blok M to the airport. Because from the report of the Transportation Office, the need is now very high," said Pramono in Central Jakarta, Tuesday, January 20.

Then, the Cawang-Jababeka route that will be prepared by the DKI Provincial Government targets industrial areas with a large number of workers, especially in the Jababeka area, Bekasi Regency.

"Then from Cawang to Jababeka. Why is it done? Because our workers at Jababeka are quite high, and the needs are also high," said Pramono.

Currently, the DKI Provincial Government is only operating six Transjabodetabek routes, namely Alam Sutera-Block M, PIK2-Block M, Bogor-Block M, Sawangan-Lebak Bulus, Vida Bekasi-Cawang, and Bekasi-Dukuh Atas.

On that occasion, Pramono said the opening of the cross-provincial route could not be done unilaterally. The DKI Provincial Government is still finalizing the plan because it requires approval from the Ministry of Transportation.

"That's why I whispered to the Director General of Railways to convey it to the Minister of Transportation specifically so that we can operate this," said Pramono.

On the other hand, Pramono also highlighted the low level of utilization of the Transjakarta service even though the connectivity was almost complete. He said, currently 92 percent of the Transjakarta service has been connected, but the utilization rate is only 23.4 percent.

Pramono emphasized that increasing the use of public transportation was the main target of the DKI Provincial Government to reduce congestion. He wants people to use public transportation consistently, not just as a complement to travel with a private vehicle.

"Now I want to improve this so that the person can continuously use public transportation owned by the DKI Jakarta government, continuously and not then still use a private vehicle," he said.

According to him, currently there are still many people living in buffer areas using park and ride to park their personal vehicles for daily trips to the office.

Pramono targets the level of public transportation use to penetrate more than 30 percent on an ongoing basis. He believes that this achievement will have a significant impact on reducing congestion in Jakarta.

"Well, I want it that our people have used it, let's say, above 30 percent, continuously and significantly, it will definitely reduce the congestion in Jakarta," he added.