Traffic priorities questioned

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Already frazzled by traffic congestion in the city, motorists questioned the policy of the city administration in which it was apparently not making it a priority to construct new flyovers or underpasses on the most congested streets of Jakarta.

The lack of urgency can be seen from the decision made by the public works agency to build a flyover on the less-congested Jl. Jend. Suprapto, Galur, Central Jakarta, while the nearby bustling Senen railway crossing must wait longer before a flyover or underpass will be built.

The one-lane Galur flyover was inaugurated by Governor Sutiyoso on March 19. The flyover, valued at Rp 21.22 billion (US$2.35 million), was one among three completed at the same time. The two others are in Kalibata, South Jakarta, and in Penggilingan, East Jakarta.

The Senen railway crossing is located less then a kilometer from the newly constructed Galur flyover.

"I am absolutely baffled on how it came about that a flyover has been constructed on Galur, while in fact the traffic in Senen railway crossing is heavily congested," Asdin Manalu, a cab driver told The Jakarta Post.

He said that traffic jams on Jl. Jend. Suprapto were very rare.

"It (traffic jam) happens only when vehicles from the opposite direction cut through the traffic flowing from Senen and make their way to Kemayoran, Central Jakarta " he said.

Asdin said that his fellow drivers complained about the ineffectiveness of the flyover.

"Many of my passengers also resented that the flyover was constructed in the wrong location," he said.

Separately, the head of the city's public works agency, IGK Suena said that a flyover for Senen railway crossing would be constructed soon, pending a permit for land use from the state- owned railway company, PT KAI.

"The Galur flyover was constructed first because it did not necessitate a permit from another agency," he told the Post late last week.

He promised that the construction of a flyover in Senen would kick off this year.

"The city administration has allocated initial funds worth Rp 10 billion for its construction," he said, adding that the total value of the project would be Rp 40 billion.

When asked about the possibility of heavier traffic congestion during the construction work, he said: "We will build a temporary road by clearing the slums in the area."