City to import 1,000 used taxis from Japan

City to import 1,000 used taxis from Japan

JAKARTA (JP): The City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) on
Tuesday disclosed its plan to import 1,000 used taxis from Japan
sometime next year to replace the older taxi units in the
capital.

DLLAJ chief Buyung Atang said during the hearing with the City
Council Commission D for development affairs that the plan is
necessary for improving public land transportation services.

"We can all see that many of our taxis here do not fulfill
road worthiness standards and most taxi companies have limited
finances to purchase new vehicles.

The importation of the used cars may help solve the problem,"
he said.

He added that the taxis will be imported early next year as
soon as the Ministry of Industry and Trade approves lowering the
import taxes for these vehicles.

The used cars, said to be Toyota Crowns, will be shipped from
the Toyota company in Japan. The liquid petroleum gas powered
vehicles had been used as taxis in Japan for four years and would
be offered at Rp 40 million each to local taxi companies here,
Buyung said.

"We do not want these used cars to add to the current number
of 23,000 taxi units in the capital, but to replace the older
ones, especially taxis that have been in use for the last 10
years," he said.

He hoped that finance companies would provide credit for taxi
operators to buy the used cars.

"With the low price, we calculated that the taxi companies can
settle the loans in two years and begin making profits in another
three years," Buyung said.

On the city's plans to import 3,000 buses from China, Buyung
said it would proceed as scheduled.

"The importation of the buses will be followed by a regulation
to withdraw all buses that have been used for more than 15 years
by 2001," he added.

DLLAJ has also calculated that each bus company can, after
replacing their old buses, settle the loan for these new buses in
five years and begin to make profits in another two years.

In another related development, the agency also planned to
offer an open tender for bus routes in the capital.

The first route to be put up for bidding in December would be
the Jl.Pemuda-Jl. Pramuka-Jl.Diponegoro-Jl.Imam Bonjol route.

The tender is open to all 14 bus companies that serve in the
capital, including the city-owned bus company (PPD) and five
others that provide minibus services. (dja)