Subway needed for big city

Subway needed for big city

The number of motorized vehicles in large cities seems to be increasing faster than the number of roads. As a result traffic is becoming increasingly congested in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya. The traffic jams have become virtually unmanageable.

Construction plans for a subway system in Jakarta are now under careful consideration. The problem that crops up in our mind now concerns the number of vehicles that will continue to increase while the construction is underway. The authorities must anticipate their impact, especially in regards to the most congested part of the city around the Blok M - Jakarta Kota (downtown) area.

Theoretically, traffic will be relieved once construction of the subway is finished. Yet a number of requirements must be met in order for the subway to be an effective means of alternative transportation. They are, among other things, an adequate number of subway cars, precise departure and arrival times, convenience, safety and reasonable fares.

-- Suara Pembaruan, Jakarta