Jakarta's odd-even traffic rule may soon return to ease the capital's increasingly busy roads after it was suspended for months due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The rule – which only allows cars with license plates ending with an even number to be used on affected major roads on even calendar dates and vice-versa for odd dates – has been suspended throughout most of the COVID-19 pandemic, though it was briefly reinforced for several weeks in August and September last year.

Authorities are now considering bringing the rule back as traffic increased in recent weeks, according to traffic director at the Jakarta Metro Police, Sambodo Purnomo Yogo.

"There's been an 11.5 percent increase in traffic, so there's the option of bringing back the odd-even rule," Sambodo said yesterday.

If the plan is realized, Sambodo stressed that public transportation volume must also be increased.

"Public transportation must increase their capacity. Why? Because we're still amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If the odd-even rule [returns] then people would switch their choice of transportation from private vehicles to public transport," he added.

The possibility of reintroducing the odd-even rule and increasing public transportation in Jakarta is still being discussed among officials.

However, there are concerns that doing so right now may lead to more coronavirus transmissions in the capital, which recorded a higher number of active cases following the Eid al-Fitr holiday in mid-May. As of June 3, Jakarta has 10,832 active COVID-19 cases, compared to 7,155 active cases on May 1.

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/jakarta-considers-bringing-back-odd-even-rule-as-gridlocks-return