Govt seeks fare hike for Idul Fitri buses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will propose a 35 percent
\nincrease in intercity bus fares for one week both before and
\nafter the Idul Fitri holiday to anticipate the traditional exodus
\nfrom major urban centers.<\/p>\n
The proposal is due to be submitted to the House of
\nRepresentatives this week.<\/p>\n
\"We will submit the (proposed) fare increase this week. But
\nusually the House approves a 25 percent increase, like it did
\nlast year,\" the Ministry of Transportation and
\nTelecommunications' Director General of Land Transportation
\nSusmono Soesilo said here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said the fare hike will be in effect for only one week both
\nbefore and after Idul Fitri which is expected to fall on Dec. 27.<\/p>\n
Major urban centers such as Jakarta are usually relatively
\ndeserted during the Idul Fitri holiday as millions return to
\ntheir hometowns.<\/p>\n
Ministry officials predict that some 18.6 million people will
\nbe traveling over the holiday period. Almost 60 percent are
\nexpected to use buses as their mode of transportation.<\/p>\n
The bus fare hike during this period is meant to compensate
\nfor empty seats on the buses during the return journey from each
\ndestination.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Director of state-owned railroad company PT.
\nKereta Api (PTKA) Badar Zaenie said on Tuesday that the company
\nmay not provide discounts this year during the annual exodus
\nperiod.<\/p>\n
The discounts were designed to encourage people not to travel
\nduring the peak days closest to Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
\"Usually we provide a 20 percent discount for those who travel
\n20 days before and after Idul Fitri. But people never leave for
\ntheir hometowns during that time. They always prefer to travel
\njust a few days before the holidays, so we will suggest
\neliminating the discount,\" Badar said.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe we will only give a 5 to 10 percent discount, starting
\none or two days before and after the holiday,\" he further said.<\/p>\n
Susmono said that in order to anticipate the annual exodus,
\nthe ministry will be supported by 11,000 police officers to
\nprovide security along the three main exodus routes in Java and
\nwill distribute 400,000 free maps for travelers using private
\ncars.<\/p>\n
\"We are also preparing heavy equipment to be placed at
\ndisaster-prone areas, just in case landslides or other natural
\ndisasters occur,\" Susmono, who is also head of the coordination
\nteam for the annual exodus, added.<\/p>\n
The ministry is also preparing some 26,460 buses in 27
\nterminals spread across seven provinces -- all five provinces in
\nJava, and Lampung and South Sumatra provinces.<\/p>\n
An additional 1,882 buses will also be on standby should
\ndemand exceed capacity, while another nine bus terminals are also
\nready to be utilized if needed.<\/p>\n
Some 238 trains are also being readied in 25 train stations in
\nthe seven provinces.<\/p>\n
For sea transportation, the state-owned passenger line PT.
\nPelni has prepared 22 passenger and 15 cargo vessels along with
\n86 small ferries. Private companies are also expected to operate
\n470 ships to serve the 1,019,000 people traveling by sea.<\/p>\n
The ministry is also coordinating with nine airline companies,
\nincluding the state-owned Garuda Indonesia and Merpati Nusantara,
\nto serve the approximately 382,000 passengers who will be
\ntraveling by air over the holiday period. (04\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-seeks-fare-hike-for-idul-fitri-buses-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}