Jakartans told to use additional bus terminals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja called on Jakartans
\ngoing home for Idul Fitri to leave from the city's temporary bus
\nterminals instead of thronging the four main terminals.<\/p>\n
He reminded travelers yesterday the city had set up 15
\ntemporary bus terminals to accommodate passengers.<\/p>\n
"The additional bus terminals are to ensure passengers leave
\nthe city in comfort, without having to crowd into the main
\nterminals," Surjadi said from the passenger ship Ciremai in
\nTanjung Priok harbor, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Surjadi was aboard ship on his annual inspection tour of
\ntransport preparations for Idul Fitri. On his tour he also
\nvisited Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta, the Kampung
\nRambutan and Pulo Gadung bus terminals in East Jakarta, and Senen
\nrailway station.<\/p>\n
The governor was accompanied by City Council Speaker M.H.
\nRitonga and city officials.<\/p>\n
The temporary terminals are being serviced by regular and
\nadditional buses deployed by state-run DAMRI, PPD and private
\nfirms.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said many people did not know they could catch their
\nfavorite buses at the additional terminals.<\/p>\n
At one additional terminal, the Senayan sports ground's
\nsouthern parking lot, there are 638 economy and 511 non-economy
\nbuses, mostly from regular companies.<\/p>\n
Surjadi urged people to use additional buses saying it was
\nunfortunate many would only use their favorite companies.<\/p>\n
"Even though their favorite buses are packed, they won't leave
\nwith other buses which are still empty," Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
He said such behavior provided ample opportunity for scalpers
\nto extort money.<\/p>\n
He said people could easily get upset crowding for hours in
\nbus terminals to get tickets and catch buses.<\/p>\n
"We intend to prevent the unexpected," Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
Surjadi also urged people to pay attention to weather
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
"We don't know whether there will be floods or not. But,
\nweather is unpredictable and those who want to leave should
\nprepare themselves, or they are going to celebrate Idul Fitri
\nfloating in water," Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
Most of the sites he inspected were still functioning
\nnormally.<\/p>\n
"The Idul Fitri exodus will peak between Thursday and Friday,"
\nSurjadi said. One reason is because many companies have only
\nrecently paid Idul Fitri allowances.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Jakarta Traffic Police Chief Col. Ansyar Roem said
\nhe expected the peak on Thursday as families celebrating Chinese
\nNew Year (Imlek) were only likely to allow their servants to go
\nhome a day before the celebrations. This year Imlek falls on Feb.
\n7.<\/p>\n
Other temporary terminals are in Grogol and Daan Mogot, West
\nJakarta, Pinang Ranti, East Jakarta, Tanjung Priok and Muara
\nAngke, North Jakarta, and on Jl. Kapten P. Tendean and Jl. Abdul
\nRochim, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said again that returning Jakartans should not bring
\nrelatives or friends back to the city.<\/p>\n
"Most who come to the city after Idul Fitri are unskilled," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"Several will end up as vendors or beggars, or take a short
\ncuts to riches by becoming hoodlums," Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
He said the city was cooperating with other provinces to curb
\nthe increase of illegal newcomers, and to conduct raids on those
\nwithout Jakarta identity cards.<\/p>\n
"But, all our appeals are soon forgotten when local people
\nhear success stories from the city," Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
He said it was difficult to curb illegal newcomers without an
\neven distribution of economic and trade activities.<\/p>\n
Until 5 p.m. yesterday 18,720 people had departed the city
\nfrom six railway stations, a decrease compared to the 35,110
\nMonday. The six stations recorded 258,316 departures since Jan.
\n25.<\/p>\n
By 2 p.m., 41,035 travelers had left on 1,158 buses from the
\ncity's four main bus terminals and 15 additional ones. On Monday,
\n26,388 passengers were recorded leaving on 630 buses.<\/p>\n
Of the estimated three million to leave the city, 1.6 million
\nare predicted to leave by bus. (ste\/bsr)<\/p>",
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