City mulls over ban on 12-seat night minivans

City mulls over ban on 12-seat night minivans

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is considering banning
the operation of the unauthorized 12-seat minivans at night and
calling for the compliance of big public transport companies to
fully utilize the 24-hour permits.

"This was the result of our meeting with the owners of public
transport companies in regard to the increasing need of night
public transport services," said Abdul Karim Tjokroprawiro, the
head of the Jakarta Office of the Transportation Ministry
yesterday.

For years Jakartans and people living in suburban areas have
relied on the services of the minivans which operate at around 10
p.m. after regular buses end their operation.

"Big companies have stopped night transport because they claim
it is not profitable for them to operate at night," said Karim
after a coordination meeting on night transport at the city's
Land Transportation and Traffic Control Agency (DLLAJ).

Given the "reluctance" of big companies, Karim said owners of
privately-owned small public transportation grouped in Wahana
Kalpika Cooperative (KWK) has offered to operate their fleet at
night while promising to return to their original, designated
routes in the morning.

"The meeting rejected the offer and instead directed big
companies to operate some of their fleet at night because the
operation permits for public transportation applies 24 hours a
day," Karim said.

Karim said that big transportation companies had the choice
either to comply with their 24 hour permits or have their permits
withdrawn.

Contract

In order to prevent bus crews driving recklessly and buses
carrying passengers exceeding the seat capacity in order to gain
extra income or to meet the target of a daily deposit set by the
owners, Karim said the meeting had laid specific arrangements.
These included the signing of special working contracts between
the crew of night transport and their companies.

"The contracts will ensure a minimum regular income for
drivers," Karim said.

"Basically the Governor (Surjadi Soedirdja) has agreed to the
proposal on the operation of night transport," he added.

The meeting also endorsed a plan aimed at minimizing losses on
the part of business owners but Karim would not reveal details of
the plan.

Karim also revealed a bold plan, which will involve related
agencies under the city administration, the police and military
to crackdown on illegal night transportation which is reportedly
operated by servicemen.

"I'm also from the army, and I know that ABRI does not give
formal permission for its members to operate this illegal
transportation," he said.

However JP Sepang, the head of DLLAJ, mentioned that the
crackdown on illegal transport would not be successful if
passengers do not have alternative transportation.

The meeting urged that the state-owned PPD bus company set an
example for other big companies to operate the night transport.

Karim and Sepang would not mention the number of wide-bodied
buses and minibuses needed to operate at night in order to meet
the demand of the public on the transport service. (anr)