Drivers upset at traffic jams
Drivers upset at traffic jams
JAKARTA (JP): Drivers of public transport plying the Tanah Abang route have complained about the drastic drop in their incomes due to the chronic traffic jams in the area during the fasting month.
Traffic around the Tanah Abang market has been notorious for years. This Ramadhan fasting month things have even become worse, the drivers said.
Some drivers interviewed by The Jakarta Post over the weekend said the increased number of roadside vendors have become the main cause of the traffic woes.
Udin, a driver of a Mayasari Bakti bus plying the Tanah Abang- Tanjung Priok route, who used to make five to seven trips a day, can now take only three trips a day. "My income has dropped by almost half," he said.
He said he has to pay Rp 50,000 for each trip to the company.
Manurung, a driver of a Tanah Abang-Jembatan Lima minibus, who used to complete seven to nine trips a day, now only manages five trips a day. He said he pays Rp 36,000 a day to the bus owner.
"We are caught in traffic jams of between one and a half to three hours whenever we enter the area," they said.
About 600 street vendors selling goods for the Idul Fitri celebration occupy the sides of Jl. Jatibaru, Jl Fakhrudin and Jl. KH Mas Mansyur. Most of them sell garments, footwear and fruits.
Some minibuses on the Tanah Abang-Kota route prefer to turn towards Kota at Tanah Abang railway station, without entering Tanah Abang terminal.
"Walking is faster than driving a car or going by public buses," said a pedestrian.
In a related development, Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi told the Post on Friday that the vendors got permission to use the roads sides during the fasting month.
He said all street vendors who used to operate on Jl. Fakhrudin, Jl. KH Mas Mansjur are now gathering on Jl. Jatibaru.
"The policy is meant to prevent the street vendors from the under pass road project underway along Jl. Fakhrudin and Jl. KH Mas Mansyur," Kahfi said.
Moving all the vendors to Jl. Jatibaru is also designed to relieve traffic congestions around Tanah Abang market.
The street vendors do not have to make any additional payoffs, except the security and sanitary contributions as usual.
Asked about the decrease in bus drivers' incomes, he said that it is unavoidable. (yns/04)