City to revamp bus system beginning next year

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Bus passengers can expect to enjoy better service as the city administration plans to introduce a new system in which drivers will be paid monthly, changing the setoran (rental fee) system.

The setoran system, which requires drivers pay a certain sum of money to the bus company, is believed to be one of the factors that causes reckless driving. Bus drivers often speed in order to get as many passengers as possible, taking and dropping them at any place.

Deputy Governor for Development Affairs Budihardjo Sukmadi said on Wednesday that a bylaw on the new bus transportation system is expected to be approved next year.

"Under the new system, bus drivers will no longer have to think about how to get as much money as possible by maximizing the number of passengers. They cam just concentrate on driving their buses," Budihardjo told reporters at City Hall.

The new system, prepared by Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University, requires passengers to buy tickets provided by the administration. Pre-paid tickets are offered so cash transactions onboard will become a thing of the past.

The administration will pay bus operators a certain amount of money depending on the distance of the route.

A pilot project for the new system will be the Blok M (South Jakarta) to Kota (West Jakarta) route, which will be offered to private investors through a tender.

The project will require investment totaling Rp 51 billion with some Rp 38.6 billion to be used for the purchase of 64 air- conditioned buses.

The system will be handled by a new body called the city bus transportation body, which will operate under the City Transportation Agency.

City councillors gave the green light for the plan, but they have disagreed over the establishment of the bus transportation body.

Councillor Tjuk Sudono of the National Mandate Party said it would be better to set up a city transportation council, to handle sea, land and air transport, as had earlier been suggested by City Council.

Tjuk also said a bylaw was not needed as a new bus system could be decided by a gubernatorial decree.

Jakarta has 5,411 large buses, 4,981 medium buses and 11,848 minivans. Only 68 percent of the total number of buses currently operate as the rest remain in poor condition.