Govt starts preparations for massive Idul Fitri transport<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has begun preparing the
\nmassive transport arrangements required for February's Idul Fitri
\nholidays when over 21 million travelers are expected to use
\npublic transport.<\/p>\n
Transport officials say only bus operators will be allowed to
\nraise their fares for the period of 16 days before, during and
\nafter the Idul Fitri days of Feb. 9 and 10.<\/p>\n
Director General of Land Transportation Santo Budiono said in
\na hearing with the House of Representatives that bus operators
\nwould be allowed to raise their fares by 25 percent during that
\nperiod.<\/p>\n
Santo made the remarks at a hearing with the House Commission
\nV on transportation, tourism, telecommunications and public
\nworks.<\/p>\n
\"Bus operators are also allowed to carry 10 percent more cargo
\nduring the 16-day period. We will take action against
\nrecalcitrant operators,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said 38,500 buses would be in service to transport some 1.1
\nmillion people every day.<\/p>\n
He said trains and ferries are allowed to carry 50 percent and
\n30 percent more cargo respectively during the busy period.<\/p>\n
The 1996 Idul Fitri transport arrangements were marred by
\nillegal fare hikes. Critics blamed it on the lack of coordination
\nby government agencies.<\/p>\n
\"In Jakarta alone, we will deploy 3,300 buses with a total of
\n167,000 seats. Four days before Idul Fitri will be the peak of
\nthe exodus in the city with some 163,500 people traveling every
\nday,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the state-owned railway company, Perumka, will make
\navailable some 154 trains with 169,000 seats per day.<\/p>\n
To carry people between Java and Sumatra, the government is
\ngoing to deploy 31 ferries, he said.<\/p>\n
The fleet will be able to transport 159,000 passengers and
\n13,300 vehicles during the holiday season compared to the 100,000
\npassengers and 8,500 vehicles transported during Idul Fitri this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
He said the government has set up four special teams to
\norganize traffic in the busiest places in southern Sumatra and
\nWest Java.<\/p>\n
Director General of Sea Transportation Soentoro told the
\nCommission yesterday that the state-owned oceanliner will deploy
\n17 vessels with a total carrying capacity of 568,750 passengers.<\/p>\n
Pelni, the state-owned shipping company, will operate the 500-
\npassenger Pangrango in the Jakarta-Semarang route. Private firms
\nwill operate 232 ships with a total of capacity 29,550 passengers
\nper day. There are also 36 smaller ships with a capacity of 6,100
\npassengers per day, he said.<\/p>\n
He said Pelni and private firms will operate 15 and 31 cargo
\nvessels respectively.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Director General of Air Transportation Zainuddin
\nSikado said the number of air passengers will increase between 15
\npercent and 25 percent during the 1997 Idul Fitri holidays. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-starts-preparations-for-massive-idul-fitri-transport-1447893297",
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