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