6,518 buses ready for holidaymakers
JAKARTA (JP): The City Land Transportation Agency has arranged 6,519 buses to accommodate an estimated 1.12 million holidaymakers during the upcoming Christmas, New Year and Idul Fitri, an official said.
The number of buses prepared shows a significant drop compared to last year's fleet of 7,801 units.
According to the head of the agency, J.P. Sepang, the decision to reduce the number of buses was made on the basis of the estimated 25-percent drop in travelers during the annual exodus for the festive seasons.
"It's predicted that less Jakartans will join the exodus as so many of them have been fired from their workplace.
Some of them have even already gone back to their respective hometowns," Sepang said in a statement on Wednesday.
While many wealthy people spend the holidays by flying to popular resort destinations or overseas, low-paid employees, housemaids and casual workers struggle hard to find a space on the buses to reach their hometowns in Java and Sumatra.
The number usually reaches its peak during Idul Fitri, which marks the end of the Moslem fasting month of Ramadhan. This year Ramadhan is expected to start on Dec. 20.
According to Sepang, the buses would serve Christmas travelers at the city's seven main bus terminals and Idul Fitri holidaymakers at 12 locations, including the Damri bus station in Kemayoran and the Senayan parking lot in Central Jakarta, as well as the bus terminals of Pulogadung and Kampung Rambutan in East Jakarta, Kalideres in West Jakarta, Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta and Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta.
Sepang's announcement was quite surprising as many bus owners had complained lately about the growing number of their fleet that could no longer run due to the skyrocketing price of spare parts.
In September, the Jakarta chapter of the Organization of Land Transportation Owners already threatened a massive strike should the government refuse to help subsidize spare parts for them.
According to the organization's chairman Aip Sjarifudin, owners had already stopped running more than half the fleet, which consisted of 11,000 medium- and full-sized buses, 14,000 minivans and 21,500 taxis.
"They can no longer afford to buy spare parts for their vehicles since the prices have jumped 300 percent," he said.
Earlier this month, Governor Sutiyoso encouraged Jakartans not to go back to their towns during the festive holidays this time for several reasons, including the declining number of buses available and for the sake of public security.
According to Sepang, all bus operators are required to follow the rules for the safety of their passengers.
"Ten percent excess of passengers is tolerable," he said.
Sepang said that the North coast traffic route in West Java, usually packed with traffic during these seasons, would be prioritized for public transportation while the South traffic zone was for privately-owned vehicles. (ind)