Palmerah Area Plagued by Congestion and Disorder, Residents Call for Action
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Congestion and disorder are the two words that best describe the daily scene on Jalan Palmerah Barat, West Jakarta.
Kompas.com observed at the location on Wednesday (25/2/2026) afternoon that the flow of vehicles was disrupted, causing queues along Jalan Palmerah Barat.
This congestion is partly caused by rows of angkot (public minivans) parked in front of the market.
The situation is exacerbated by the large number of market vendors setting up stalls and parking their carts on the side of the road.
The goods of some vendors also spill onto the road, taking up space and narrowing the area for vehicles.
Niko, a worker walking to Palmerah Station, said that congestion in Palmerah always occurs in the afternoon.
“Especially in the afternoon, during the breaking of the fast. Then, in front, there are so many people selling things. People eat on the street, angkot and everything else stop,” said Niko when met at the location on Wednesday.
Niko also highlighted the temporary nature of the Palmerah area’s clean-up efforts.
He mentioned that the streets were suddenly cleaned up when President Prabowo Subianto was about to pass through.
“Yesterday, it was cleaned up when the president came, they said. But it only lasted for a day, and the next day it was messy again, and the traffic was as bad as it is now,” said Niko.
Regarding the plan to improve or provide pedestrian facilities such as pelican crossings, Niko believes that these facilities are not a priority.
According to him, the root of the problem in Palmerah lies in the regulation of angkot and vendors that occupy the road.
“Crossing the road isn’t difficult, because it’s open. In fact, it’s not about needing a pelican crossing. If they want to fix it properly, they can build a zebra crossing, but the most important thing is to clean up the streets,” he said.
He hopes that the authorities will take firm action against the drivers and vendors who are causing the congestion in the area.