Traffic congestion costs bus firms dearly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The traffic congestion during the Idul Fitri
\nexodus has taken its toll on the revenue of bus companies.<\/p>\n
Bus companies officials said their buses could not travel at
\nall on the peak days of Feb. 17 and 18.<\/p>\n
Budi Sulistyo, the business manager of CV Lorena Transport and
\nTour Company, whose buses still served their customers reported a
\nloss of at least Rp 40 million for his 38 buses.<\/p>\n
He said these losses included at least one lost round trip for
\na 28-seat bus, extra fees for diesel, extra energy spent on the
\nair conditioners, and the increased wear and tear on machinery
\nand tires.<\/p>\n
Budi said the company's net profit from a ticket is Rp 2,000.<\/p>\n
\"We make a profit if we fill 21 of our 28 seats, or a load
\nfactor of 75 percent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The bus companies managers blamed lack of coordination among
\ntransportation officials and the indiscipline of private
\nmotorists for the traffic congestion, particularly along the
\nJava's northern coastal route.<\/p>\n
\"There were too many private cars along the roads,\" said
\nHendro Darmojuwono, the manager of the Safari Dharma Raya
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
\"The jams before the Cikampek toll gate to Cirebon, West Java
\ncost us a lot of money,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Worse<\/p>\n
Bus company managements usually anticipate losses as empty
\nbuses on the way back to Jakarta during Idul Fitri holidays, he
\nsaid. \"But this year's traffic gridlock made everything worse.\"<\/p>\n
Budi said that on Feb. 17-18 the buses used at least 65 liters
\nof diesel fuel per bus more, costing up to Rp 26,950. For the
\nroute to Surabaya, East Java, this meant three refills, not two
\nas usual.<\/p>\n
Agents said they had hoped for their annual commissions for
\nIdul Fitri.<\/p>\n
\"We didn't think it would be this bad,\" said Mrs. Panjaitan,
\nan agent at the Lebak Bulus terminal.<\/p>\n
\"Usually we get a commission of Rp 3,000 per bus,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Although this is split with brokers, employees and for
\nterminal levies, \"if the regular number of 10 buses operate, we
\nstill make some profit,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Agents are now hoping a return on their losses from the
\nreturning traffic to Jakarta. Buses with only 10 passengers have
\nbeen sent to cities in West, Central and East Java cities, hoping
\nfor full seats back to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"They were told to leave, even though they were only carrying
\na few passengers, because many are already waiting at the other
\nend,\" another agent said.<\/p>\n
\"Ask the managers of state-owned bus companies PPD and
\nMayasari Bhakti whether they made a profit,\" said Suwardjo of the
\nTunggal Dara company, whose buses to Solo could not get back to
\nJakarta on Feb. 17 and 18.<\/p>\n
Of the estimated 3.5 Idul Fitri travelers, around 2 million
\nwent by bus. To cater for these passengers, on top of the 6,694
\nbuses normally operating inter-city routes, 1,750 were added to
\nfleets. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/traffic-congestion-costs-bus-firms-dearly-1447893297",
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