Jammed routes irritate drivers

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The month-long trial of the new three-in-one traffic policy, to support the city administration's busway project due to kick off on Jan. 15, has required building managements to provide gates for users of their buildings, which can be accessed through alternative roads.

Hotel Indonesia, located on Jl. Thamrin, which is in the 12.9- kilometer busway corridor, has opened another gate on Jl. Teluk Betung.

"We have another gate to enable guests to reach the hotel, on Jl. Teluk Betung. It has been in use for about a month now," said hotel public relations officer Pingkan Purwandari.

From Jl. Teluk Betung, motorists can travel via Jl. Kebon Kacang and Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur to reach destinations in Casablanca, Menteng, Slipi or Tanah Abang.

Some buildings located along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin have opened back gates for their guests and workers since the three-in-one policy was put into action for the first time in 1993.

The new policy has extended the restricted areas from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota, West Jakarta, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The administration has provided four alternative routes for motorists who still wish to use their cars. During the trial period police will not take action on motorists violating the three-in-one policy.

As the new policy has been tried out since Dec. 24, motorists have found that the alternative routes to their workplaces have become more congested than ever.

Business Technology Center chairman Bambang Pujantiyo told The Jakarta Post, "I'm sure those (alternative) routes will be very congested when the new policy takes effect. It's frustrating because the policy simply moves congestion from one area to another."

Bambang, whose office is on Jl. Thamrin, usually gets into the building via a gate on Jl. Kebon Sirih, which leads to Jl. Abdul Muis, Jl. Jati Baru and Tanah Abang.

For Yuliadi, who works for a private company on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta, taking an alternative route means being trapped in congestion.

"We have been using these roads for a long time, but lately the congestion has been so bad," he moaned on Saturday.

Yuliadi usually goes to his office via Jl. Tanah Sereal, Jl. Cideng Barat, Jl. Cideng Timur and Jl. Hasyim Ashari, Central Jakarta. These streets lead to busy areas, such as Slipi, Tomang and Grogol in West Jakarta.

Meanwhile, a journalist from a daily newspaper on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, West Jakarta, said the same thing.

"I can take Jl. Mangga Besar, which runs past my office, and travel all the way along Jl. Gunung Sahari to Senen," he said. "But the congestion is unbelievable -- it's very tedious."

From Senen, Central Jakarta, motorists have the choice of more alternative routes to reach Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin, or can go east to Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta.