Bus companies denounced

Bus companies denounced

JAKARTA (JP): A city official denounced bus companies
yesterday for not operating their buses in accordance with
government regulations.

Under existing regulations bus companies must operate 40
percent of their vehicles for cheap transportation and the
remaining 60 percent should be half air-conditioned and half
unair-conditioned.

"I am very disappointed that bus companies have not started to
provide cheaper transportation for the public," J.P. Sepang, head
of the City Land Transportation Control Agency, said yesterday.

Agency data shows unair-conditioned express buses rise by 140
yearly, far more than the rise in regular buses which are in
greater demand.

There are 18,091 buses in the city and 90 percent of these are
regular buses.

Sepang denied reports in yesterday's Pos Kota daily which said
the state-run bus company PPD and the private Mayasari bus
company had started additional regular bus services.

"Both companies had not complied with the composition," he
said, adding that he would meet bus company managers to see the
regulation was adhered to.

One thousand new buses would start operation next month to fit
the 40:30:30 composition, Sepang said.

"By next year all (bus) companies should start operating more
low-fare buses", he said. (02)