Firms to operate new buses on 12 routes
Firms to operate new buses on 12 routes
JAKARTA (JP): Four city bus companies will soon begin operating 120 new buses on 12 new routes in a bid to help improve public transportation services.
Aip Sjaifuddin, head of the Organization of Land Transportation Companies, told reporters yesterday that permits for the operation of the new buses have been issued by the City Land Traffic Control Agency.
Aip said he did not know when the operation of the 120 buses will start because the agency is letting the four companies decide the schedules for their operations.
"The 120 new buses will mostly be used to serve long distance routes, including the Pasar Minggu-Kalideres and Pulo Gadung- Muara Karang routes," Aip said.
He said the four companies given permits are Bianglala, Mastrans, Mayasari Bhakti and Giri Indah.
He said the 120 buses are part of 1,000 new buses, which will be deployed in the city in the near future. They include air conditioned and non-air conditioned types, he said, refusing to give details of the plan. "I don't remember the details," he added.
Last year the city administration decided to operate 1,000 more buses, to strengthen Jakarta's existing fleet to meet the public's growing demand for transportation.
City Council urged the city administration recently to speed up the operation of the additional buses so as to help curb the increasingly chaotic condition of public transportation.
The Land Transport Control Agency admitted that public transportation in the city is short of vehicles, and that their conditions are no longer meeting requirements for roadworthiness and public safety.
The office has been conducting an operation, over the last few years, to impound big buses and mini buses found violating the safety regulations, he said.
He said that the office has also conducted training courses for bus drivers, with the aim of improving their ability to drive properly.
Aip said his organization has urged drivers of old buses not to envy drivers of new buses.
"However, I cannot guarantee there will not be strikes by drivers of old buses, or negative impacts caused by their operation," Aip said. (yns)