Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Swedish Government said it would introduce the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system in Jakarta in 2014, according to its envoy.

Speaking at the Jakarta City Hall here on Friday, Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia Ewa Polano said, "We come here to offer a solution to traffic jams in Jakarta through the Electronic Road Pricing system."

After a meeting with Jakarta deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the Swedish envoy said the ERP system was the correct system to be used in Jakarta to overcome traffic congestion.

Polano noted that the ERP system and technology, which has been used in Sweden, was the best method to resolve the Jakartas traffic problems.

"We hope to begin using this system in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya and other cities in Indonesia because we have the best system and technology in the implementation of ERP," he noted.

According to Polano, the ERP system will serve as an effective tool to manage traffic congestion in other Indonesian cities, also.

"Besides reducing traffic congestion, the ERP system is also environmentally friendly because it can reduce carbon emissions to around 26 to 41 percent," he explained.

Meanwhile, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said he welcomed the offer from the Swedish Government to install the ERP system in Jakarta.

"We are actually ready with the implementation of the ERP system along main roads in Jakarta, but we also will make every effort to increase the number of public buses," Basuki said.

With the use of the ERP system and the increasing number of public buses available to the public, Basuki expressed hope that the number of private cars could be reduced.
(EDITED BY INE)

Editor: AA Ariwibowo
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