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)