Fair visitors complain about shoddy bus service

JAKARTA (JP): Visitors to the 1994 Jakarta Fair (PRJ) have expressed dissatisfaction with the poor services provided by public transportation vehicles operating to and from the Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, fair grounds.

As the fair enters the final week of its month-long run, numerous visitors have complained not only about the inadequate number and tardiness of evening buses, but also the disgraceful conduct of drivers who refuse to complete their assigned routes.

"I can't believe this driver. On the front it's written that the bus goes to PRJ, but we were forced to get off the bus at Pasar Baru," said Achmad of his journey on the PPD number 12 bus. Pasar Baru is some four kilometers from the fair grounds.

Achmad's experience is typical of the many visitors who rely on buses to take them to Kemayoran.

As a result of the lack of discipline displayed by many bus drivers, visitors wanting to leave the fair grounds are often forced to wait several hours for a departing bus.

"When I wanted to go home to Tangerang last Monday night I had to wait at least two hours for the PPD number 44 bus," said Zaenab. In order to get home she had to take an alternate route which required several bus changes.

"I didn't arrive home until 2:30 a.m.," she said as quoted by Antara yesterday.

The fair is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Each year over one-and-half million people visit the fair, which is held to coincide with the city's June 22 anniversary.

This year's exhibition was opened by Vice President Try Sutrisno on June 18, and will run through July 16.

Last year's total of 1.8 million visitors will likely be topped this year.

In anticipation of the influx of visitors, organizers of the 1994 fair prepared 450 buses serving 15 routes.

Apart from the shoddy bus service, those traveling to the fair by private vehicle have also complained about the chaotic traffic conditions surrounding the arena.

A visitor by the name of Dadang expressed his frustration at bus drivers who stop their vehicle too long without heeding the mass line-up of traffic behind him.

Traffic complaints notwithstanding, visitors have praised the security at this year's fair, commenting that they feel less worried about pickpockets than in previous years.

First Lt. M. Tampubolon, a police officer in charge security at the fair arena, testified to the beefed-up security of this year's fair, saying that thus far there have been no incidents of fighting or drunkenness. (mds)