Solving Jakarta's

Solving Jakarta's
traffic problems

Every day, of every week, month and year, the traffic gets
worse in Jakarta. In some places it is quicker by foot than
vehicle and certainly quicker by bicycle than car.

It is encouraging to see that attempts are being made with the
busway to alleviate the congestion; however, even the optimist
remains pessimistic at this approach.

A light rail system, which has been used so successfully in
Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong, could indeed be a
realistic approach to quick, affordable transport in Jakarta. A
light rail link from Roxy to the business district is hardly an
alternative transport network.

A light rail system that links the international and domestic
airport terminals with Tangerang, then on to Gambir and Kota,
would be a more intelligent approach, and a link from Tanjung
Priok, stopping at Ancol, Pluit and Kota, down to the business
district and beyond to Pondok Indah, would be far more sensible.
The train network, airport and sea ports, as well as the large
recreation area at Ancol and the business district, would all be
interconnected.

To be successful though, there would need to be smooth
operations, with services running on time, stopping only at
stations and without fare evaders such as buskers.

The birds have left the National Monument, the deer are gone,
the statues still stand and the buses are about to cause further
delay. Let's have some real solutions to this problem.

MARK OGILVIE
Jakarta