5,900 buses for holiday exodus

SEMARANG: The Central Java administration has prepared 5,960 buses in anticipation of a massive exodus to and from Jakarta during the holiday season.

"Already 5,456 buses are operating, while another 404 buses are ready as a backup," the head of provincial land transportation agency (DLLAJ), Srihono, said on Monday.

"Some buses are a loan from the private sector while others are from the Indonesian Military (TNI)," he explained.

The office estimated an average of 842,000 people would travel per day during the week of the Idul Fitri holiday which is expected to fall on Jan. 9.

He added that 23 alternative routes had been mapped out along the north coastal route through Central Java to cope with expected heavy traffic congestion. (har/edt)