The Cost of Jakarta's Traffic Congestions

Summary

The Greater Jakarta Area, home to over 31.53 million people, is one of Southeast Asia's economic powerhouses but faces significant challenges due to severe congestion and overcrowding. Traffic congestion, vehicle accidents, and overburdened infrastructure, including airports and ports, cost the country billions annually. The government has launched projects such as metro rail and bus rapid transit systems in an effort to tackle these issues. Despite these efforts, congestion remains a major problem, and solutions to resolve Jakarta's traffic woes continue to evolve.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Greater Jakarta Area is one of the most prominent economic hubs in Southeast Asia, with a population of over 31.53 million people as of 2021.
• 😀 Jakarta's economy has a purchasing power parity of over $987 billion, with a per capita income of $28,000, making it a key driver of Indonesia's overall economic growth.
• 😀 Jakarta faces severe congestion issues, with over 4,684 people living per square kilometer, contributing to extreme traffic problems.
• 😀 Traffic congestion in Jakarta costs the country an estimated $4.6 billion USD annually in lost productivity and economic activity.
• 😀 A separate study suggests Jakarta loses $5 billion annually due to fuel consumption, time loss, air pollution, and vehicle operation costs.
• 😀 The rise in Jakarta's population and vehicle numbers has led to an increase in traffic accidents, making it one of the worst cities globally for vehicle travel.
• 😀 Jakarta's traffic and overcrowding issues have a domino effect, impacting other sectors like the airport and port systems.
• 😀 Soekarno-Hatta International Airport struggles to accommodate the increasing number of aircraft movements due to the overcrowded airspace.
• 😀 The Port of Tanjung Priok also faces severe congestion due to increased foot traffic and trade, further exacerbating the city's congestion problems.
• 😀 The Indonesian government is tackling these challenges by overhauling the transportation system, with projects like the launch of Light Rail, Metro Rail, and the upgrade of the TransJakarta Bus Rapid Transit system.

Q & A

What makes the Greater Jakarta Area a prominent global destination?

The Greater Jakarta Area is a prominent global destination due to its large population, growing economy, and increasing contribution to Indonesia's development. It is also on track to become a major global financial hub.

What was the estimated population of the Greater Jakarta Area in 2021?

The Greater Jakarta Area was estimated to have over 31.53 million people by the end of 2021.

What is the purchasing power parity of the Greater Jakarta Area?

The purchasing power parity of the Greater Jakarta Area was over $987 billion US dollars, or $28,000 per capita.

What is the major issue faced by Jakarta despite its economic growth?

Despite its economic growth, Jakarta faces a significant issue of human congestion, with too many people and vehicles in the city.

What is the average population density of the Greater Jakarta Area?

The Greater Jakarta Area has an average population density of 4,684 people per square kilometer.

What impact does traffic congestion have on Jakarta’s economy?

Traffic congestion costs Jakarta over 65 trillion Indonesian Rupiah, or nearly $4.6 billion US dollars, in annual economic losses. This is due to fuel consumption, time wastage, and the costs of vehicle operations.

How much does Jakarta lose annually due to fuel consumption, time, and vehicle operation costs?

Jakarta loses about $5 billion annually due to fuel consumption, time value, air pollution, and vehicle operation costs.

What is one of the consequences of Jakarta’s rise in vehicle numbers?

The rise in vehicle numbers in Jakarta has led to a significant increase in traffic accidents, further complicating the city's transportation challenges.

How is the congestion affecting other sectors like airports and ports in Jakarta?

The congestion in Jakarta has affected sectors like the airport and port systems. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport struggles with accommodating too many aircraft movements, and the Port of Tanjung Priok is severely congested due to increased foot traffic and trade.

What steps has the government of Jakarta taken to alleviate traffic congestion?

The government has been overhauling Jakarta’s transportation system by launching Light Rail and Metro Rail rapid transit systems, upgrading the TransJakarta Bus rapid transit service, and expanding the MRT and LRT systems, which are expected to carry hundreds of thousands of passengers annually.