CNN Indonesia
Wednesday, 01 Mar 2023 15:19 WIB
Aerial photo of queues of vehicles dominated by coal-laden trucks stuck in traffic jams on the Sarolangun-Muara Tembesi Cross Road, Batanghari, Jambi, Wednesday (1/3/2023). (BETWEEN PHOTOS/WAHDI SEPTIAWAN)
Jambi, CNN Indonesia —
Congestion occurred on the national road in Tembesi, Batanghari, Jambi, as a result of the density of coal transport trucks. No half-hearted, the traffic jam lasted for more than 22 hours.
This national road has been packed with vehicles for 15 kilometers since 10.00 WIB, Tuesday (28/2). The Batanghari Police have deployed personnel to unravel the traffic jam.
Hidayat (28) is one of the residents of Jambi City who is trapped in this traffic phenomenon. After being stuck in traffic for about 22 hours, he was able to enter Jambi City.
“Congestion occurs in four lanes. Apart from coal trucks, there are also many private cars, cars carrying fish. It’s not that we can’t pass anymore, set up that’s where,” he said, to CNNIndonesia.comWednesday (1/3).
The impact of this traffic jam, there are patients who died in the ambulance. “There was an ambulance that took the patient, who died there. He wanted to go to Jambi, but he didn’t know which hospital he was going to,” said Hidayat.
Not only that, there are traders who complain that the fish they are transporting die in the middle of the road. Of course, these traders suffer big losses, because the price of fish that has been dead for a long time is very different from fish that is still fresh.
“It’s no longer stuck. It’s not moving,” said Doni, the fish trader.
Setiawan, a truck driver transporting household furniture, also complained about the same thing. He had been stuck in traffic for over 15 hours.
“Since yesterday afternoon, we have been stuck in traffic jams. If this is the case, we can just surrender and be patient,” he said.
He admits that he has repeatedly been stuck in traffic jams because there are tens of thousands of coal moving simultaneously at night on national roads.
“We, the driver, have a schedule, yes, today and at that time, for example, we have to leave, if traffic jams, of course there is no more time to rest at home,” said Setiawan.
The biggest loss for Setiawan is the loss of time with family. This is exacerbated by reduced income.
“If the travel money runs out, you don’t want to use your own money. This means that the monthly deposit for the house is reduced,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Batanghari Police Chief, AKBP Bambang Purwanto, said that his party had deployed personnel to deal with the congestion since last night. Not only unraveling traffic jams, Batanghari Police personnel are also on guard at the mouth of the mine, so that no coal trucks leave before operating hours.
This afternoon, said Bambang, the congestion is starting to unravel even though the traffic is still packed with trucks and private cars.
“The officers are still handling it temporarily. Yesterday there were a lot of problems, now it’s less. Members have been deployed since last night,” he said by telephone.
One of the causes of this traffic jam is the density of coal trucks in Jambi, which reaches around 8,300 to 11,500 units. This truck passes the national road in Jambi, because there is no special route.
Not only is the density of coal transport trucks, this congestion is also the condition of the roads around which have deteriorated as a result of heavy rains.
“Yesterday it rained heavily. Then this truck didn’t dare to park in the parking pocket, for fear of getting stuck,” said Bambang.
(msa/isn)
