2.1m Jakarta residents set to head for home

JAKARTA (JP): Some 2.1 million Jakarta residents are expected to travel to their hometowns for the upcoming Christmas, New Year and Idul Fitri holidays, an official said.

"It is estimated that most of the residents, some 1.2 million passengers, will use 6,530 buses leaving the city's 13 bus terminals to reach their hometowns," Sarwanto, head of the Jakarta office of the Ministry of Communications, said on Friday.

The office also estimates some 795,000 city residents will leave the city by 224 trains, while some 97,400 residents will travel on 18 ships, he said.

Sarwanto also said there were 93 airplanes ready to carry nearly 200,000 passengers aboard 3,792 flights.

He said state-owned bus company PN Damri would provide 305 intercity buses, while private bus companies would deploy 2,000 buses.

"There will also be a backup armada of 231 intercity buses and 494 city buses available," he said.

Sarwanto said seven bus terminals throughout the city would serve city residents traveling for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. They are Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta; Kampung Rambutan, Pulo Gadung and Rawamangun in East Jakarta; Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta; Kali Deres in West Jakarta; and Kemayoran in Central Jakarta.

"Six additional terminals will be ready for Idul Fitri," Sarwanto said.

The additional terminals are Muara Angke and Tanah Merah in North Jakarta; Pinang Ranti in East Jakarta; Jl. Capt. Tendean and Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta; and Rawa Buaya in West Jakarta.

"Most of the terminals will serve passengers traveling to cities in Sumatra, West Java, Central Java and East Java," Sarwanto said.

In addition, the Pulogadung bus terminal will also serve Denpasar, Bali, he said.

He said passengers wishing to go to West Nusa Tenggara could take buses from the Kali Deres, Lebak Bulus and Pulo Gadung terminals.

He said his office had also prepared railway service to carry city residents to their hometowns.

"There are 63 locomotives with 636 cars being prepared .... The trains will be allowed to exceed by up to 50 percent their capacity," he said.

He said there were eight railway stations serving West, Central and East Java and Yogyakarta. These stations are Kota, Gambir, Senen, Jatinegara, Tanah Abang, Manggarai, Tanjung Priok and Kemayoran.

"All the stations offer economy class service only, except Gambir which will serve business and executive class trains only and Jatinegara which will also serve business class trains," Sarwanto said.

He said Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta would serve those residents wishing to travel by sea.

"State-owned shipping company PT Pelni is preparing its 13 ships with a capacity ranging from some 1,300 to 2,600 passengers. There are also two private-owned ships with a capacity of 280 and 350 passengers," he said.

"There is also a ferry service from Sunda Kelapa Port using a ship and two fast ferries," Sarwanto added.

He said air service would be available at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, and Halim Perdanakusumah Airport in East Jakarta.

"There will be 294 international flights to carry some 86,000 passengers, while domestic flights will carry nearly 280,000 passengers in 3,498 flights," he said.

He also said the authorities would establish a command post at each airport, seaport, railway station and bus terminal.

"Each post will have some 100 personnel," Sarwanto said. (05)