Foreign firms invited to operate city buses<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The city administration is considering inviting foreign firms
\nto operate new buses along certain city bus routes in October
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Development Affairs Budihardjo Sukmadi
\nadmitted that it was possible that foreign bus companies could be
\ninvolved, given this year's implementation of the ASEAN Free
\nTrade Agreement (AFTA).<\/p>\n
"It is most likely that bus companies from Malaysia or other
\nASEAN countries would be able to operate buses here," Budihardjo
\nsaid in a hearing with City Council's commission D for
\ndevelopment affairs at the weekend.<\/p>\n
The possible involvement of foreign firms has been
\nstrengthened recently as local bus operators are believed to lack
\nthe financial resources to apply the new system, which requires,
\namong others things, bus drivers to pay a fixed monthly fee of
\nbetween Rp 2 million (US$200) and Rp 3 million.<\/p>\n
The current system encourages drivers to take as many
\npassengers as possible, without paying attention to traffic rules
\nand the safety of passengers, he said.<\/p>\n
The new system, which was prepared by Yogyakarta-based Gadjah
\nUniversity, requires bus passengers to buy tickets provided by
\nthe city administration.<\/p>\n
The administration offers certain routes to bus operators
\nthrough open tenders.<\/p>\n
The new system would be first applied in October for the Blok
\nM to Kota route. The city administration will invest some Rp 50
\nbillion to purchase some 50 air-conditioned buses and develop new
\nbus shelters.<\/p>\n
The buses would travel along the fast lanes of Jl. Jend.
\nSudirman and Jl. MH. Thamrin. In addition some 29 shelters,
\nlocated under bridges, would be built for the buses.<\/p>\n
The fast lane of certain streets would be marked and only new
\nbuses would be allowed to travel in these lanes.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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