City OKs new 'bajaj' to replace old ones
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Before the proposal to replace the Indian-made bajaj (motorized pedicab) with locally made kancil is given the go-ahead, the city transportation agency has agreed to introduce the more- environmentally friendly blue bajaj.
The decision, however, was made amid mixed public reaction over the city administration's plan to launch another new transportation service using Toyota Kijang vans.
"The new bajaj will be less polluting. In principal, we OK the vehicle," agency head Rustam Effendy said on Tuesday at City Hall.
The 175cc bajaj has a four-stroke engine, consumes less fuel, and produces less noise and smoke compared to the existing ones, which use a two-stroke engine. The new bajaj can run on two fuel variants: petrol or a combination of gas and petrol.
Rustam did not say whether the blue bajaj were intended as replacements for the some 14,000 orange ones, which have operated in the city since 1975.
He said the agency would require the bajaj producer to provide gas stations for the new bajaj.
However, councillor Tjuk Sudono from the City Council Commission D on development affairs, questioned the legality of the implementation of the new bajaj.
"(This) must refer to the existing bylaw. Otherwise, it will be illegal," he said.
Bylaw No. 12/2003 on city transportation does not carry a clause on bajaj. The bylaw only refers to passenger cars as a means of public transportation. It defines passenger cars as vehicles with more than eight seats for passengers.
"The bajaj are not regulated in the bylaw. Consequently, the new ones can replace the old bajaj, but more units should not be allowed to operate," Tjuk said.
A staff member of PT Abdi Raharja -- the blue bajaj producer -- said last Thursday that the new vehicles would only be assembled in Indonesia, while both the engine and body would be imported from India.
A petrol-run bajaj is tagged at Rp 27 million (US$3,214), while a combined-fuel vehicle is offered at Rp 32 million.
Despite the sudden onset of blue bajaj into the equation, the transportation agency has assured the public that kancil would still be introduced.
Bajaj were produced by Bajaj Auto Ltd. of India and were introduced during Ali Sadikin's tenure as governor.
Separately, city spokesman Muhayat said that Governor Sutiyoso has not made a decision on the plan to operate Kijang taxis.
"Pak Sutiyoso is still seeking input (from the transportation agency)," he said.
Rustam said earlier that the agency had been studying the possibility of operating Kijang taxis, which can accommodate more than five passengers, compared to sedan taxis, which can only accommodate four passengers.
He claimed that backpackers and other tourists had complained that sedan taxis lacked space to accommodate their bags in the trunk.
Rustam said that the roomy Kijang taxis would be helpful in transporting people from railway stations and bus terminals and also for people who were carrying shopping home from the mall.