Cimone closure worsens traffic

TANGERANG: The closure of Cimone bus terminal has worsened traffic in Tangerang with public minivan drivers now picking up passengers on crossroads instead of at the new Poris Plawad bus terminal, Antara reported on Saturday.

The angkot (minivans) were seen queueing around the crossroads of Jl. Teuku Umar and Jl. Imam Bonjol, and of Jl. Proklamasi and Jl. Beringin to wait for passengers.

Traffic jams occur during morning and afternoon peak hours, encouraging opportunistic pak ogah (illegal traffic officers) to accept money from drivers who want to escape the chaos.

City mayor Wahidin Halim had ordered authorized traffic officers to help police handle the congestion but no improvement had yet been seen, the agency said. -- Antara

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Over 4,000 students receive scholarship

TANGERANG: A total 4,101 students from poor families who excelled academically at public schools, received scholarships totaling Rp 859.6 million (US$102,333).

"The scholarship is part of the Tangerang municipal program, while the fund is taken from the budget for education program," Tangerang Education Agency head Harry Mulya Zein said on Saturday.

He said that of the 4,101 students receiving the scholarship, 2,628 were elementary students, 766 junior high school, and 707 senior high school.

Each elementary student receives Rp 25,000 a month, junior high students get Rp 30,000, and senior high Rp 40,000. -- Antara