Number vacating city drops as Idul Fitri nears<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The annual Idul Fitri exodus eased slightly
\nyesterday, while traffic and business activity in the city
\nremained busy, indicating that many Jakartans have yet to leave
\nfor their hometowns.<\/p>\n
In the morning and afternoon, only a small number of travelers
\nwere found at the city's bus terminals, such as Senen (Central
\nJakarta), Kalideres (West Jakarta) and Kampung Rambutan and
\nPulogadung (East Jakarta).<\/p>\n
Most railway stations were similarly quiet.<\/p>\n
By evening, however, the numbers started to rise at several
\nterminals.<\/p>\n
The number of motorists on highways and tollroads connecting
\nJakarta to the rest of Java and to Sumatra, such as the Jakarta-
\nCikampek and Cawang-Jatibening tollroads, increased significantly
\nyesterday evening.<\/p>\n
The number of travelers passing through the Soekarno-Hatta
\ninternational airport was normal.<\/p>\n
\"There has been no significant increase in the number of
\npassengers, thus far,\" said Supardjo, a security officer at the
\ndeparture terminal.<\/p>\n
The overall number of Idul Fitri travelers yesterday was
\nslightly lower than the numbers recorded on Saturday and Sunday.
\nOnly a few accidents and traffic jams were reported.<\/p>\n
The number of homeward bound holidaymakers is expected to
\nincrease today and tomorrow as many office employees leave for
\nthe public Idul Fitri holidays on Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n
The estimated huge number of travelers flocking to many city
\nbus terminals and railway stations over the next two days has
\nbeen well anticipated by the government.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of extra buses, from both state and private bus
\ncompanies, have been prepared.<\/p>\n
The main problem faced by the travelers is activity of ticket
\nscalpers, who always appear during this peak season at bus
\nterminals and railway stations.<\/p>\n
Although the government has raised travel fares, there are
\nstill a large number of scalpers in operation, offering tickets
\nat double or triple the original sale price.<\/p>\n
\"I wonder why the local authorities have consistently failed
\nto wipe them out,\" Priyanto, a small-scale businessman on his way
\nto Malang, East Java, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He strongly believed that scalpers have been colluding with
\nofficials at the terminals and railway stations.<\/p>\n
Business activities remained normal, with only a few
\ncompanies, such as catering firms, rejecting orders customers
\nbecause of staff shortages. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/number-vacating-city-drops-as-idul-fitri-nears-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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