New Tactics To Prevent People From Entering Jakarta Via Alternative Route

Illustrations (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - Metro Jaya Police has prepared a new tactic to prevent people from moving in and out of Jakarta during the Implementation of the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM). The trick is to increase the number of blocking points.

Traffic Director of Metro Jaya Police, Grand Commissioner Sambodo Purnomo Yogo said there were a total of 100 blocking points in the Jakarta area and its surroundings. This tactic will be implemented from Thursday, July 15.

"We will carry out 100 points at the isolation points starting tomorrow at 06.00 western Indonesia time," said Sambodo to reporters, Wednesday, July 14.

The hundreds of blocking points are spread over a number of roads. Starting from arterial roads, border areas, to toll roads.

At least, there are 25 new blocking points. This is because previously there were 75 isolation points in the jurisdiction of the Metro Jaya Police.

"In the city there are 19 points, on the toll road there are 15 points, at the city limits 10 points, in the buffer area there are 29 points, and the Sudirman-Thamrin road section there are 27 points, so there are 100 points in total," Sambodo explained.

In addition, the addition of blocking points is also considered as a solution to the use of rat pathways by people working in non-essential and non-critical sectors to avoid blocking points.

In fact, if there were any, the rat's path would end at the point of isolation. Thus, there is no longer any access in and out of Jakarta except through the blocking point.

"Regarding the rat path, but after we studied together there were too many rat lanes that we closed. Now the end of the rat path is on the roads that we closed earlier," said Sambodo.

Although a handful of people have other rat routes and managed to get into Jakarta, Sambodo said they would not be free to move around. Because other blocking points will wait and the officers will turn them around.

"So it's up to them where they want to go but when they enter the city center our roads are blocked," said Sambodo.

On the other hand, Sambodo said efforts to close all rat pathways would not be effective. Because it will require more personnel to supervise.

However, by using the current insulation scheme, the use of the rat trails is said to be useless.

"If we block out thousands of rat lanes, it might not be effective either. The point is okay, they can go whichever way, after all, when they enter (still) to the road we closed," said Sambodo.

Adding that, the Head of Public Relations of the Metro Jaya Police Grand Commissioner Yusri Yunus said that one of the reasons for the addition was because the mobility of the people who had declined had increased again.

"There was a decline in Google basic traffic, we have seen a decrease (mobility) of up to 50 percent, and now there has been an increase of 30 percent," said Yusri

Moreover, in the previous insulation scheme, many people avoided the isolation point through the rat route. Thus, the blocking point is expanded.

"We have done the blocking, but the level of public awareness is still lacking. It is true that these buffers (areas) are quiet but there are efforts from the community, you know that outside of being essential and critical, they are not allowed, but they go through rats," said Yusri.

"In fact, except to make people aware that COVID is not a game. There is only one key, reduce mobility or stop mobility if it's not too important, that's the main key," Yusri continued.

In addition, public awareness of the increasingly high level of spread is also still low. They still choose to work in the office even though there are rules that do not allow it.

"However, the low level of public awareness and company leadership, which is not supposed to open, is still forced to open," said Yusri.

The following are 100 isolation points spread throughout Jakarta and its surroundings;

Jakarta city boundary blocking point

• Jumat Market (South Tangerang-South Jakarta)

• Lenteng agung (Depok-South Jakarta)

• Budi luhur (Tangerang-South Jakarta)

• Kalideres (Tangerang City-West Jakarta)

• Panasonic (Depok-East Jakarta)

• Kalimalang (Bekasi City-East Jakarta)

• Sumber Arta (Bekasi City-East Jakarta)

• Harapan indah (Bekasi City-East Jakarta)

• Bintaro (South Tangerang-South Jakarta)

• Batu ceper (Tangerang City-West Jakarta)

Additional blocking points within the city

• Rebo Market, Cijantung

• TL Fatmawati

• Pangeran Antasari Street

• Mampang Underpass 

• The Green Garden

• TL Coca Cola cempaka putih

• Basura Underpass 

• DI Panjaitan Street toward Casablanca

• Pesing Flyover toward east

• Ladogi Flyover 

• Red Bridge

• Megaria

• Cassa Kemayoran Street

• Benyamin Sueb Kemayoran Street

• Apron Street

• Hasyim Ashari (TL Donat)

• East Medan Merdeka (Gambir)

• Veteran 3 Street

• Joglo Road

Toll blocking point for Jakarta

• Central Cikarang Toll Gate

• Cibatu Toll Gate

• West Cikarang Toll Gate

• Tambun Toll Gate

• East Bekasi Toll Gate

• Bukopin Offramp 

• Tegal parang Offramp 

• Polda Offramp 

• MPR/DPR Offramp 

• Darmais Offramp 

• Farmasi Offramp 

• Semangat Offramp 

• Pancoran Offramp 

• Desari Offramp 

The blocking point for Sudirman-Thamrin

1. North direction

• Senayan Roundabout

• FX Sudirman

• Semanggi

• Benhil

• Karet

• Setia Budi

• Dukuh bawah

• Tanjung Karang Street

• Betung

• HI Roundabout

• TL Sarinah

• TL Kebon Sirih

• Budi Kemulian

• Museum

• RRI

• TL Harmoni

2. South direction

• French Embassy
• Sumenep Street

• TL HOS Cokroaminoto

• Dukuh bawah

• Setiabudi

• Suryo Street

• SCBD

• Bapindo

• Menpan

• Senayan Roundabout

Buffer area blocking point

1. Bekasi Regency

• Sasak Jarang-Tambun

• Kalimalang

• Kendung Waringin

• Jababeka

• Cikarang festival

• Pencenongan Crossroad

• Wibawa Mukti Stadium

• Movieland Crossroad

• SGC Crossroad

• Yos Sudarso Street

• Kalijaya Terminal

• District 1 Meikarta

2. South Tangerang

• Legok

• Gading Serpong

• Camar Street, Bintaro sector 3

• Pamulang Bogor Road

• Ir. H. Juanda Street

• Gading Boulevard

3. Depok

• Below the UI flyover
• Komjen M Yasin Street 

• Margonda raya Street 

• GDC Gate

• Margonda Pharmacy Fork

• Kartini Fork

• Bogor 8 Road

• Parung Ciputat Road

• Bogor Cilangkap Road

4. Tangerang City

• Jatiuwung