The Jakarta Provincial Administration plans to provide 100 free city buses to reduce the use of private vehicles and ease traffic congestion in the city, Indonesia’s Antara news agency reported.

“The plan is hoped to cut down on the use of private vehicles, especially motorcycles,” Jakarta Acting Governor Basuki Tjahaya Purnama said yesterday.

The buses will ply the major roads of Medan Merdeka Barat and MH Thamrin in the initial stage.

The programme will also be implemented in other parts of Jakarta such as Kuningan, Kota Tua and Blok M.    

A ban will be imposed on motorcycles on routes serviced by the buses due to the high rate of accidents involving motorcyclists on major roads.

Head of Transportation Office of the Jakarta Administration Muhammad Akbar said the programme will come into effect in December.

- Bernama