Jakarta Governor Pramono has committed to boosting the use of public transportation to ease traffic congestion in the city. While Transjakarta's connectivity coverage has reached 92 percent, public usage remains low at around 23.4 percent. 

To meet its public transport ridership target, the Jakarta Provincial Government plans to expand Transjabodetabek routes. The new routes will target high-mobility areas, such as from Soekarno-Hatta (Soetta) International Airport to Blok M culinary hub.

"Therefore, I have instructed Head of Transporation Agency to opens new Transjabodetabek routes . I had a brief discussion  with the directorate general, and hopefully we will get approval for a route from airport to Blok M," Pramono said at the Duta Merlin Shopping Complex, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (1/20).

The new route is expected to become a popular route given the strong demand for airport access to Blok M.

In addition, the city government is planning to open a new route from Cawang to Jababeka to facilitate mobility of workers in Jababeka industrial area who reside in Jakarta.

"From Cawang to Jababeka. Why is this needed? Because the number of our workers in Jababeka is quite high, so is the demand," he explained.

Pramono noted that the plan is currently being finalized in coordination with Ministry of Transportation. He called on the public to take advantage of the city's improved public transport connectivity to reduce congestion.

"My hope is that if public transport ridership can reach around 30 percent on a consistent basis, it will significantly reduce congestion in Jakarta," he said.