Indonesians criticise public transport mandate for Jakarta’s civil servants

The civil servants have to take public transport every Wednesday in the capital, which is ranked the world’s seventh most congested city

A new policy mandating all civil servants in Jakarta to take public transport every Wednesday to ease chronic traffic congestion in Indonesia’s capital has drawn criticism over its practicality.

Jakarta’s top leaders were seen adhering to the mandate, which took effect on Wednesday. Governor Pramono Anung took a bus from his official residence to attend a meeting, while a deputy governor took the subway and bus to reach the Jakarta City Hall, The Jakarta Post reported.

Pramono has said the policy will be enforced, although there are no sanctions for non-compliance currently.

Authorities would be monitoring civil servants who use private vehicles on Wednesdays, according to news magazine Tempo, citing Pramono. Those who ignored the regulation might not find parking for their vehicles, he added.

“The bottom line is if they do not comply, they will definitely have difficulties on their own.”

According to Pramono, the policy applies to about 65,000 personnel, including 45,000 civil servants, with the rest being contract workers.

To enforce the policy, road barriers were placed on the entrance to the city hall to block private vehicles. Three security guards were also assigned to guard the gate.

Jakarta is ranked the world’s seventh most congested city, according to the 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard. It has 22 million vehicles, double that of its population, with motorcycles accounting for 80 per cent, The Star reported, citing local statistics.

Traffic congestion costs residents an estimated 80 to 200 hours each year, according to various reports.

Currently, only about 10 per cent of daily commutes in Jakarta utilise public transportation, a figure far below the city’s 55 per cent target by 2045.

The new policy, which requires civil servants to take selfies as proof of compliance, has drawn criticism online.

Employees living in suburban or outlying areas have said they rely on private vehicles to reach a bus or a subway station due to limited public transport access.

While Jakarta’s public transport had become more accessible in recent years, significant improvements were still required, particularly to connect the Greater Jakarta area, Pramono said.

Five new bus routes would be launched to enhance connectivity between Jakarta and neighbouring satellite cities, he added.

Efforts to improve Jakarta’s subway system are underway, with the first stage of an 84.1km new train line slated for completion in 2031.