Alternatives for 'kancil' sought

Alternatives for 'kancil' sought

The City Transportation Agency opened on Tuesday the opportunity
for private companies to propose other kinds of public vehicles
with similar specifications to the city's kancil (new four-
wheeled public vehicle) which has been produced to replace the
bajaj.

"We invite businesspeople to come up with new kinds of
vehicles in addition to the kancil. But, we require that those
vehicles must have a four-stroke engine and four wheels," said
the agency's head Rustam Effendy Sidabutar.

The Kancil is expected to gradually replace around 14,600 old
and noisy three-wheeled bajaj.

Rustam acknowledged that the idea of alternative models to the
kancil was to ward off allegations of a monopolization in the
business.

Governor Sutiyoso also asserted that new vehicles had to
obtain a permit to operate from the transportation agency.

"The new vehicles will also be subjected to tests to check
their roadworthiness," he added.

The Jakarta Transportation Agency revealed that it had issued
50 operating permits for around 250 kancil.

The administration has approved the initial operation of 250
kancil in May. The operation of kancil will be followed by the
withdrawal of 250 old bajaj.

The plan to replace the bajaj has been discussed since 1982
amid concerns that the motorized tricycles produced thick smoke
contributing to the worsening air quality in the city in addition
to the noise pollution.

The administration stopped issuing new permits for the bajaj
in 1986, though it continues to allow the operation of existing
bajaj in the city.

Kancil is assembled by local company PT Kurnia Abadi Niaga
Citra Indah Lestari.--JP