Axis Capital Group Jakarta Review: Traffic Jam, an Issue since Forever

Jakarta, Indonesia - Traffic congestion in main cities around Asia has long been an issue since anyone can remember. According to many surveys like Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Jakarta, Indonesia has received the status of the city with the worst traffic in the world. The city was reviewed to have the highest number of stops and starts with an average of 33, 240 per drive per year.

The most complaints of annoying causes of traffic jams in the country include people taking shelter at underpass during heavy rains which clogs the main roads for vehicles and motorist. Also, the streets are filled with vendors which steal the way where pedestrians should be walking on. Hence, people have no choice but to walk on roads that should be for vehicles. There are also street violators around the city: parking under the “no parking” sign and driving on pedestrian lanes. The country’s population is also pointed out as one of the main reasons of traffic congestion in the city.

In 2050, the city is predicted to be the largest among other cities in Asia. The current population of Greater Jakarta is 30 million, making it one of the world’s largest urban clusters, and it is estimated to grow to 50 million over the next few decades.

Although other sectors of the infrastructure industry have boomed in the past years, traffic remains to be one of the main issues which have not been resolved despite the continuous effort by the government and private companies. Jakarta's traffic congestion is estimated to cost the economy US$1.2 billion per year even before counting health costs. Furthermore, the city has insufficient land area to build roads – 8 percent compared to the 15 percent it needs.

The government incessantly gives out warnings that if this continues to happen, the goal of developing the nation in character and appearance may seem impossible to reach.

Dr. J. Scott Younger, director of infrastructure firm PT Nusantara Infrastructure, a major private infrastructure player in Indonesia states that the solution, he says, is to develop alternatives such as light rail and monorail, and to make arterial improvements such as urban toll roads and selective bus corridors. In the wider Java region, there is an even greater need to extend the road network, which may be up to half a million kilometres short of the roads needed to serve the population.

With the new budget for infrastructures on the way, it is expected that this issue will slowly lift this year. Also, the public has somehow depended on the events that the country will host this year.

Construction event organizers such as the Concrete Show South East Asia are planning to hold an international expo this coming October 28-30, 2015 to discuss the possibilities of infrastructure advancement not only in the country but all over South East Asia. Construction companies such as Axis Capital Group along with project managers and engineers from all over the world are expected to participate in the upcoming event.

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