PPD's refurbished double decker buses launched<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): PT Senawangi Wisamarta Utama (SWU), a subsidiary
\nof Humpuss Group, has launched refurbished double-decker buses,
\nowned by the PPD state-run transit firm.<\/p>\n
Ongky P. Sumarno, SWU's president, said yesterday that the
\noperation of the refurbished buses by his company is aimed at
\nproviding the convenient transportation needed by Jakarta's
\ncitizens.<\/p>\n
SWU has refurbished 35 of PPD's buses and will now on operate
\nthem under an eight-year agreement the two companies concluded in
\n1992. The refurbishment of another 35 buses is still underway.<\/p>\n
Supporting Ongky's statement, Yahya Subandi, PPD's president,
\nsaid he had accepted the cooperation proposal from Humpuss Group
\nbecause it was profitable.<\/p>\n
\"It will enable PPD to gain some advantage out of its worn out
\nassets,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yahya said earlier that PPD would gain a lot of benefit from
\nthe cooperation, including job opportunities for its crews and a
\nshare in any profit.<\/p>\n
Ongky said the company had committed itself to refurbishing 70
\nof the existing 150 out-of-order double-decker buses. He added
\nthat the remaining 35 will be ready around August.<\/p>\n
The buses have been repaired in PPD's workshop at Narogong,
\nBekasi.<\/p>\n
The refurbishment cost for each bus reached Rp 100 million
\n(US$46,274), while the price of a new British-made double-decker
\nbus from the Leyland company is $161,962 (Rp 350 million) each.<\/p>\n
\"It is much cheaper than buying new ones,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The company decided 15 buses will serve the Pulo Gadung-Blok M
\nroute and 12 buses will serve the Dr. Wahidin-Blok M route.<\/p>\n
The bus fare is the same as that of other Patas express buses
\nat Rp 550. The buses also will be operated without conductors as
\nall now have fare boxes.<\/p>\n
The cooperation between SWU and PPD, which started in 1992,
\nwill last until the year 2000. During the period, SWU is obliged
\nto pay a royalty to PPD. However, neither Ongky nor Yahya would
\nstate a figure.<\/p>\n
Ongky said that SWU does not expect any profit from the ticket
\nsales but expected to gain income from advertisements on the
\nbuses' bodies.<\/p>\n
Didit M.P. Pontjowinoto, SWU's finance director, told The
\nJakarta Post that the advertisements will be the main source of
\nthe company's revenues.<\/p>\n
Didit declined to reveal the rate for advertisements painted
\non the buses's body, but he said that the company had projected
\nthat it will reach a break-even point after three years.<\/p>\n
According to him, the Bentoel clove cigarette company has
\nplaced advertisements on 25 of the SWU buses.<\/p>\n
SWU has recruited 137 personnel, including 50 drivers from
\nPPD.<\/p>\n
Didit said the pay of the new personnel will be adjusted in
\nline with the previous remuneration system applied by PPD, but he
\npledged to raise their basic salary, which ranged between Rp
\n100,000 ($46.27) and Rp 150,000 ($69.41) by 25 percent.<\/p>\n
\"They will also receive their daily allowances of Rp 1,750 per
\nhour\", he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the average driver worked 210 hours a month.<\/p>\n
Hutomo Mandala Putra, chairman of Humpuss Group, attended the
\nlaunching ceremony. (03)<\/p>",
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