Ciputat to build integrated bus terminal

JAKARTA: Tangerang regency administration will build an integrated bus terminal in Ciputat next year to handle the current crowded and traffic-congested area. The terminal is expected to serve intra-city buses and inter-city buses.

Hidayat, a spokesperson for the regency's planning body said on Sunday the construction of the 5-hectare terminal in Ciputat was expected to ease traffic congestion in front of Ciputat market, as well as along Jl. Juanda and Jl. Dewi Sartika.

He was quoted by Tempointeraktif.com as saying that the regency had allocated Rp 10 billion (US$1.08 million) from next year's budget as a down payment to acquire the land, which had been valued at a total of Rp 50 billion.

The regency earlier built a 2-hectare bus terminal in Pondok Cabe, around three kilometers from Ciputat market. However, many buses and public transportation drivers refused to use the market, arguing that would-be passengers preferred to wait for the vehicles in the Ciputat area. -- JP