Traffic snarl maps city

JAKARTA (JP): A massive traffic snarl was the order of the day yesterday when thousands of motorists and motorcyclists queued for gasoline after the government announced an increase in fuel prices.

Officials at the city public order office said most of city's main roads were heavily jammed. These were Jl. Rasuna Said, Jl. Sahardjo, Jl. Casablanca, Jl. Sisingamangaraja, Jl. Pasar Minggu, Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta, and Jl. Kebon Sirih, Jl. Merdeka Selatan, Jl. Merdeka Barat, Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Jl. Thamrin, Senen and Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta.

In East Jakarta, badly jammed streets were Jl. Pemuda, Jl. Jatinegara, Jl. Matraman, Jl. Salemba, Jl. Pramuka, Jl. Otista, Jl. Dewi Sartika, and the Cawang area. In North Jakarta, Jl. R.E. Martadinata, Jl. Sunter Agung, Jl. Gunung Sahari and the Kota area were all affected.

In West Jakarta, the worst traffic jams occurred on Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Grogol area, Jl. Kyai Tapa and Jl. Daan Mogot.

"The massive traffic occurred during afternoon rush hours, and in some areas the gridlock continued well into the night when motorists tried to beat the 12 a.m. deadline (when the price hike went into effect)," an official, Sumanta, told The Jakarta Post.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said that police and City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) officers were put on alert for possible traffic problems at 10 a.m. yesterday

"We expect the traffic will remain until close to midnight," he said. (edt)