City to import 1,000 used taxis from Japan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) on
\nTuesday disclosed its plan to import 1,000 used taxis from Japan
\nsometime next year to replace the older taxi units in the
\ncapital.<\/p>\n
DLLAJ chief Buyung Atang said during the hearing with the City
\nCouncil Commission D for development affairs that the plan is
\nnecessary for improving public land transportation services.<\/p>\n
"We can all see that many of our taxis here do not fulfill
\nroad worthiness standards and most taxi companies have limited
\nfinances to purchase new vehicles.<\/p>\n
The importation of the used cars may help solve the problem,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He added that the taxis will be imported early next year as
\nsoon as the Ministry of Industry and Trade approves lowering the
\nimport taxes for these vehicles.<\/p>\n
The used cars, said to be Toyota Crowns, will be shipped from
\nthe Toyota company in Japan. The liquid petroleum gas powered
\nvehicles had been used as taxis in Japan for four years and would
\nbe offered at Rp 40 million each to local taxi companies here,
\nBuyung said.<\/p>\n
"We do not want these used cars to add to the current number
\nof 23,000 taxi units in the capital, but to replace the older
\nones, especially taxis that have been in use for the last 10
\nyears," he said.<\/p>\n
He hoped that finance companies would provide credit for taxi
\noperators to buy the used cars.<\/p>\n
"With the low price, we calculated that the taxi companies can
\nsettle the loans in two years and begin making profits in another
\nthree years," Buyung said.<\/p>\n
On the city's plans to import 3,000 buses from China, Buyung
\nsaid it would proceed as scheduled.<\/p>\n
"The importation of the buses will be followed by a regulation
\nto withdraw all buses that have been used for more than 15 years
\nby 2001," he added.<\/p>\n
DLLAJ has also calculated that each bus company can, after
\nreplacing their old buses, settle the loan for these new buses in
\nfive years and begin to make profits in another two years.<\/p>\n
In another related development, the agency also planned to
\noffer an open tender for bus routes in the capital.<\/p>\n
The first route to be put up for bidding in December would be
\nthe Jl.Pemuda-Jl. Pramuka-Jl.Diponegoro-Jl.Imam Bonjol route.<\/p>\n
The tender is open to all 14 bus companies that serve in the
\ncapital, including the city-owned bus company (PPD) and five
\nothers that provide minibus services. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-to-import-1000-used-taxis-from-japan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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