0 Odd-even license plate policy pushed to May

The city administration has announced that it would delay the implementation of odd-even license plate policy, initially slated to go into effect in March. Jakarta Transportation Agency head Udar Pristono told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the policy aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city would be postponed to May. “[The policy’s implementation] will be delayed to May or June,” Udar said, declining to explain the reason for the postponement. “[There is] no problem,” he said when asked whether the city administration was experiencing difficulties in the process. 

Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo earlier said that the policy would not be implemented in March as previously scheduled as the city administration was currently preparing the procurement of vehicle stickers. The governor said that the tender process alone would take up to 45 days. Jokowi’s administration initiated the policy, aiming to limit cars on the roads based on license plate numbers. The policy will temporarily replace the current “3-in-1” carpool zones and will be effective from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. 

It will affect roads used by the Transjakarta Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and a number of other main streets. Under the plan, cars with odd-numbered license plates will be banned on even dates and vice versa. The vehicles will also be marked with stickers, red for odd numbers and green for even numbers. Jokowi said that the city would work with the Jakarta Police and the Public Order Agency to supervise the plan’s implementation. The city administration and the Jakarta Police have also agreed to create an electronic ticketing system to reduce fraudulent practices by police officers in the field. 

The system will make use of new CCTV cameras — in addition to existing cameras owned by the Jakarta Police’s Traffic Management Center — across the capital to record traffic violations such as speeding, occupying the Transjakarta’s exclusive lanes and driving against the flow of traffic. Violators caught on camera will be sent a ticket according to the address associated with their registered license plate. Should the violator ignore the ticket, his or her vehicle registration certificate (STNK) will automatically be blocked.

The administration has also announced future plans to impose an electronic road pricing system and to increase parking fees to encourage people to shift to public transportation. In the near future, according to Udar, the city plans to raise on-street parking fees to reduce the number of vehicles parked on the street which often causes traffic jams.

source : the jakarta post