Bus protest causes terminal chaos

JAKARTA (JP): Drivers of public buses serving the Blok M bus terminal protested on Thursday the terminal management's policy to change their allocated lanes within the terminal, leaving passengers there stranded and forced to leave the terminal to find alternative transport.

Many of the drivers just parked their buses inside the terminal, leaving other buses behind them unable to enter. Meanwhile, other drivers refused to enter the terminal, forcing their passengers to alight some distance from the facility.

Public buses refusing to enter the terminal include Metromini 69, serving Blok M-Ciledug; 79, serving Blok M-Lebakbulus; 610 Blok M-Pondok Labu; 74 Blok M-Rempoa; 611 Blok M-Pasar Jumat.

Detik.com reported on Thursday that terminal management changed the terminal lanes for the public buses on Tuesday.

Express (Patas) buses, PPD, Mayasari, Steady Safe, Himpurna, Pahala Kencana, Bianglala, which serve the routes from the terminal to Senen, Kota, Pulogadung, Kalideres, Bekasi, Rawamangun, Tanjung Priok, Muara Karang, Kampung Rambutan, Grogol and Kampung Melayu, are now required to enter the terminal through lanes 1 and 2.

Meanwhile, all Metromini and Kopaja buses, which serve the routes from the terminal to Ciledug, Rempoa, Bintaro, Joglo, Cidodol, Radio Dalam, Meruya, Tanah Abang, Pasar Jumat, Depok, Pondok Labu, Cinere, Ragunan and Kampung Rambutan, are required to enter through lanes 3, 4, 5 and 6. However, before entering the terminal, these buses will have to travel via Jl Melawai, which is longer than the previous route via Jl. Trunojoyo.