Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Traffic congestion in the Jakarta Special Capital Region has witnessed an uptick, with the congestion index reaching 53 percent by mid-2023, revealed Police Senior Superintendent Latif Usman, the Director of Traffic of the Jakarta Metro Jaya Regional Police. "Yesterday, if I recall correctly, based on measurements from the statistical agency, our congestion index has now surged to 53 percent," he said as quoted from the pmjnews website on Saturday (8/12/2023). He pointed out that the 53 percent figure reflects a rise compared to the congestion index during the 2019 Covid-19 pandemic, which stood at 35 percent. The optimal congestion index for Jakarta should ideally remain under 50 percent. "This arises from the significant vehicular volume and the substantial public activities. The vehicular volume and the diverse range of public engagements contribute to this substantial level of congestion. Thus, the volume is markedly high. As previously mentioned, we are suggesting potential adjustments to working hours. We are currently awaiting the Governor's decision," he elaborated. He concluded that his directorate is strategically positioned at crucial congestion points and during peak traffic hours in Jakarta to effectively manage the flow of traffic. This strategy involved optimizing personnel deployment at these critical intersections. (bg/pr/nm)