Hassle-free motoring a treat for Jakartans
JAKARTA (JP): Most major thoroughfares in the city remain deserted and many businesses have not resumed activities although yesterday marked the sixth day after Idul Fitri.
Jakarta's trademark hustle and bustle is expected to return to normal Monday, which also marks the "official" end to a restriction on price increases for groceries.
Streets such as Jl. MH Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Daan Mogot, Jl. Gadjah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk -- which are renowned for bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion -- flowed freely yesterday.
It was a similar scene on major streets in the city's outskirts, including at Tangerang and Bekasi.
The long queue of vehicles at Kebon Jeruk tollgate and the Tomang intersection of the Merak-Jakarta toll road were also missing.
"I spent less than 25 minutes traveling from Slipi (West Jakarta) to Karawaci (Tangerang) instead of the usual 45 minutes," senior high school student Dede told The Jakarta Post.
"The bus looked so tidy and it was very comfortable for me because there were only a few passengers on board."
But the drivers of public transportation vehicles at the city's main terminals, such as Kampung Melayu terminal in East Jakarta and Senen terminal in Central Jakarta, complained about the lack of passengers.
There were also fewer commuters boarding the state railway company's trains.
Antara reported from Senen Railway Station yesterday that trains heading to and from Bekasi and Kota had some vacant cars.
"I really enjoy this time of year as there are no heavy crowds, queues or pollution. Jakarta looks tidier and more friendly," a passenger said.
Many shop and restaurant owners operating in business centers have remained closed, leaving parking lots bare.
Most businesspeople said they would resume their activities Monday despite the uncertainty of available stock at their stores and the skyrocketing prices of almost all goods.
But they denied allegations that they had temporarily stopped operation in order to hoard goods and sell them later at the new price.
According to several workers, their bosses decided to take a long Idul Fitri holiday in an attempt to minimize spending during the financial crisis.
"This is the first time our company has had a long Idul Fitri holiday. It is an attempt to be thrifty with operational costs, such as electricity bills and paper napkins," a salesman for a distributor of imported lubricants in West Jakarta said.
The man, who refused to be named, admitted that his firm had decided to temporarily stop selling the products due to the uncertain value of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar.
An employee of a tile producer expressed his concern that a long holiday could be a sign that he would be dismissed.
"I'm seriously worried about my job, worried that my boss will allow me to continue my holiday forever because seven of my colleagues have already been dismissed," he said.
The firm's employees began their holiday five days before Idul Fitri and they are not due back at work until Monday. (bsr/ind)