PT KAI halts service in North Sumatra<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) has
\ntemporarily halted its operations in North Sumatra until Jan. 10,
\n2002 due to damage caused along several sections of railway by
\nflooding, which hit the province on Dec. 29, 2001.<\/p>\n
John Sumbayak, spokesman for the local branch of PT KAI, said
\nthe company was still carrying out emergency repair work on eight
\nrailway sections between Medan and Tebing Tinggi, between Tebing
\nTinggi and Kisaran and between Tebing Tinggi and Pematang
\nSiantar.<\/p>\n
He said his company had encouraged its maintenance workers to
\ncomplete the repair work as soon as possible, so that the railway
\nservice could resume on Jan. 10.<\/p>\n
PT KAI was expected to suffer at least Rp 1.2 billion in
\nmaterial losses due to the temporary halt of operations and the
\nmillions of rupiah spent on repair work.<\/p>\n
\"PT KAI's income is on average Rp 1.2 billion per month in the
\nprovince,\" he said, citing passenger train seat occupancy rates
\nat the end of 2001, which was high because of the New Year
\ncelebrations.<\/p>\n
Travelers have taken public buses as an alternative means to
\ntravel in the city because of PT KAI's temporary cessation of
\noperations. However, many have expressed their disappointment at
\nthe soaring fares of public buses.<\/p>\n
\"Hundreds of prospective passengers are turned away from
\nrailway stations every day because they have not yet learnt about
\nthe railway company's decision to halt its service in the
\nprovince,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nurhayati, 46, said she pays twice the price for a public bus
\nticket than for the regular train fare to travel to Kisaran from
\nMedan.<\/p>\n
\"Each time my family goes to Medan, we always use the train
\nbecause it is safer and it is far cheaper than the bus,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Eddy Sofyan, spokesman for the North Sumatra
\nadministration, said the province had proposed that the central
\ngovernment allocate Rp 67.75 billion to rehabilitate all
\ninfrastructure damaged by the recent flooding. So far, however,
\nit has yet to receive a positive response.<\/p>\n
According to data at the social affairs office, more than
\n22,000 families in Medan, Binjai, Langkat and Labuhan Batu, who
\nlost their houses during the flood, are taking refuge in numerous
\ncamps and public buildings in the towns.<\/p>\n
\"The flood victims are in need of humanitarian relief to help
\nthem meet their daily needs,\" Eddy said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pt-kai-halts-service-in-north-sumatra-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}