New minivans to replace 'bemo' by February<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): New minivans will replace three-wheeled bemo by
\nthe end of February, the Association of Public Transport Owners
\n(Organda) city branch head said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Aip Syarifuddin said 800 bemo would be replaced by minivans
\nadding to the 125 bemo already replaced. Bemo owners will pay Rp
\n24 million for the minivans in monthly installments.<\/p>\n
Bemo are being replaced by 1,300cc minivans made by Suzuki,
\nMitsubishi and Daihatsu.<\/p>\n
By the end of February just 171 of the city's original 1,096
\nbemo will remain. The owners or operators of the remaining bemo
\nhave not yet got public transport permits for the new minivans.<\/p>\n
The minivans will serve the same 20 routes bemo served.<\/p>\n
An estimated 1,000 bemo operate without permits.<\/p>\n
However, a Land Transportation Control Agency official said he
\ndoubted the program could be completed on time.<\/p>\n
\"Since the program was launched in April, only 125 bemo have
\nbeen replaced,\" the official said.<\/p>\n
The Ramadhan fasting month in January would make the program
\nharder to implement because owners and drivers would need extra
\nincome for Idul Fitri, he said.<\/p>\n
Next year's elections meant the government also had to be
\ncautious in implementing sensitive programs, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The program may stimulate social and political protests,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Earlier schedule<\/p>\n
The bemo replacement program was originally intended to be
\ncompleted last August but bemo owners' protests delayed the
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
Bemo owners said the down payment and the monthly installments
\nfor the minivans were too high.<\/p>\n
They said the minivans had an Rp 18 million retail price but
\nthey had to pay for Rp 24 million. The Rp 24 million includes a
\npublic transport permit.<\/p>\n
Aip said a joint team of Organda and traffic control agency
\nofficials would monitor the program and report to the governor.<\/p>\n
Traffic control agency head J.P. Sepang said earlier the
\nreplacement program would make it easier to identify unregistered
\nbemo because they would not be replaced.<\/p>\n
The minivans will use liquefied petroleum gas, as part of the
\ncity's effort to reduce air pollution.<\/p>\n
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said recently all new public
\ntransport vehicles had to use natural gas. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-minivans-to-replace-bemo-by-february-1447893297",
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