Basuki Rejects GPS Use in ERP Implementation
Reported by Rudi Hermawan | Translated by Rini Elvira
Acting Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama rejects the implementation of Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system to use Global Positioning System (GPS) offered by Watch Daya company from Singapore. He reasoned the GPS is not yet tested in advance countries like in Europe.
I don’t want Jakarta to be a guinea pig for goods that have not been proven used (in other countries)
“They offered a new technology called GPS. Then I asked which countries have used this system? They said none. I asked again, does Singapore have tried it? Not yet. If so, I cannot accept. I don’t want Jakarta to be the first city in the world which ERP uses GPS,” uttered Basuki at City Hall, Tuesday (7/2).
According to Basuki, the GPS can determine the degrees and coordinates when vehicles passed the device, and directly decide the price to be paid as well as charged automatically. The GPS on board unit (OBU) is priced for Rp 2 million per unit, which he assessed more expensive that the price offered by two other foreign companies, namely Kapsch and Q-free.
ERP System Tested Out This Mid-July“The question now is how much the price of GPS OBU? Rp 2 million? Who would want to install it? Regular OBU is only Rp 200 thousand,” he told.
If the device was trialed, the company asked for guarantee it will be used in Jakarta. That is why Basuki rejected the GPS because he does not want Jakarta to be a guinea pig for that technology.
“For me, I don’t want Jakarta to be a guinea pig for goods that have not been proven used (in other countries). European country uses technology from Norway and Sweden. We want to choose the technology used by all countries,” he stated.
As previously reported, ERP system will soon be implemented in the capital city. One of foreign companies from Sweden will conduct a trial of that device on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman and Jalan MH Thamrin this mid July.
“Kapsch is almost confirmed. They can set the gates and device this week. Hopefully it could be trialed by mid July,” said Head of Jakarta Transportation Department, M Akbar.
