12 bus crew cited for ticket rule violations

JAKARTA (JP): The crews of 12 buses were caught selling tickets far beyond the official rates yesterday as Jakarta prepares for an influx of Idul Fitri holidaymakers, an official said.

Oriyanto Sapardal of the City Land Transportation Agency said the crews had been cited for violating the set tariffs and further action would be taken by the Directorate General of Land Transportation.

"However, the bus companies have been allowed to continue operating."

He said the bus owners would have their operating permits frozen but the length of the suspension would "depend on the violation and whether they had done the same thing last year".

The number of violations this year could climb as the agency has not received reports from undercover officers, who have been acting as bus passengers to catch out companies which violate the rules.

The most recent offenses were committed by buses owned by several bus companies, including PO Rawit Mulya (which plies the Jakarta-Tegal route), PO Apollo (Jakarta-Solo) and Sentra Jaya (Jakarta-Bengkulu), the agency said.

A PO Rawit Mulya bus, for example, upped the tariff to Rp 28,000 (US$2.80) from only Rp 8,500 for a one-way ticket, while an Apollo bus charged Rp 42,000 compared to the official rate of only Rp 37,500. Some Sentra Jaya buses raised the rate to Rp 40,000 from the official fee of Rp 28,000.

Oriyanto said there had been less violations this year than the 43 recorded last year and 131 offenses in 1996.

Last year the permit freeze imposed on bus companies lasted one month, he said.

But he was disappointed that few people had reported bus companies for ticket sale violations.

"We have provided them with forms to report breaches at every terminal gate."

The agency urged bus companies to provide more night services to accommodate people who return to the city early in the morning.

Oriyanto said the agency also asked companies to start bus services earlier in the morning.

"If, at present, they operate the vehicles from 6 a.m., then we ask them to start at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m."

Oriyanto said that up until Dec. 28 there were 102 late night services, including buses and smaller vehicles, in operation.

Peak

The Idul Fitri holiday influx is expected to peak Friday but 150,000 residents were expected to flood back into the capital yesterday.

Data compiled at 2 p.m. yesterday at the national Idul Fitri post revealed that 50,000 travelers were expected to arrive at the city's six main railway stations of Senen, Gambir, Manggarai, Jatinegara, Tanah Abang and Kota from cities throughout Java.

At the Pulogadung Bus Terminal, in East Jakarta, 65,000 people were projected to enter the city aboard 3,454 buses and a further 30,000 passengers were to disembark at Kampung Rambutan Bus Terminal, also in East Jakarta, from East, Central and West Java yesterday.

"Today's flow of passengers is quite heavy but smooth because we urge all passengers to get on their city buses straight away, so they don't clog up the terminals," Agus, an officer at the Pulogadung terminal said.

Compared to the same period on Sunday, the number of passengers was far greater but they were queuing in an orderly fashion.

"The situation, such as last Sunday's chaos, where many drivers were forced to let impatient passengers alight outside the terminal, did not reoccur."

Twelve people were taken to a health center at Pulogadung terminal yesterday after they fainted, suffered exhaustion or had trouble breathing.

"Two doctors are always available here. So do not worry. After receiving first aid and proper medication, they'll be just fine," Abdoel Hakim, head of the Pulogadung terminal, said. (edt/ind)