Revised 3-in-1 hours to kick in on Sept. 17
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The revised three-in-one traffic policy along major thoroughfares, which starts the three-people-per-car restriction later in the afternoon, will go into effect starting on Sept. 17, an official says.
The revision -- in which the restriction starts from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. -- is half an-hour later than the existing policy that runs from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
City transportation agency head Rustam Effendy said on Thursday the revised Gubernatorial Degree No. 2054/2004 on the three-in-one policy had been signed by Governor Sutiyoso on Sept. 6.
"We hope the new policy will fulfill the demand of Glodok businessmen who have been affected by the traffic restraints," he said at City Hall.
Association of Indonesian Retailers (Aprindo) chairman Handaka Santosa has said the restriction encouraged people to go straight home rather than visit shopping centers, resulting in 50 percent profit drop for businesses in Glodok.
The administration issued the Gubernatorial Decree No. 4104/2003 on the extension of the three-in-one policy to support the busway project along its corridor from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota, West Jakarta. The implementation started on Jan. 24, 2004.
The three-in-one policy, which was initially implemented in 1993, has been sidestepped by many private car owners who pay joki (passengers for hire) to sit in their cars when they enter the restricted zones.
The old Law No. 14/1992 on traffic requires those breaching the three-in-one law to be sentenced to a maximum of one month's jail and a fine of up to Rp 1 million (US$106.38). However, the newer Bylaw No. 12/2003 on traffic says offenders violating the law should be sentenced up to six months' jail and fined up to Rp 50,000.
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso said the latest revision was based on a recommendation by transportation experts from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
The ITB team questioned 480 respondents from different business sectors, whose offices are located along the roads, about the impact of the three-in-one policy on their businesses. The survey revealed about 75 percent of the respondents said they suffered a decline in profit.
City Hall spokesman Muhayat said the policy would also be enforced along the two planned busway corridors from Pulogadung bus terminal in East Jakarta to Kalideres, West Jakarta, via the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta.