Holiday exodus reaches its peak

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of people anxious to travel home to celebrate Idul Fitri are flocking to the city's major intercity bus terminals and railway stations, two days before the Muslim post-fasting celebrations begin.

Officials at terminals and railway stations told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the volume of seasonal travelers reached its peak on Wednesday and Thursday, particularly in the evening.

They also estimated many people were set to leave the capital by train and bus on Friday in a bid to reach their hometowns before Idul Fitri, which according to the government and senior Muslim scholars is to fall on Saturday.

Like in previous years, bus passengers, in particular, had to face the unpleasant fact that many of the fares had been doubled by the bus operators.

Those who complained to officials of the city's Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) received no proper response. Some of the Agency's officials, who are supposed to punish the bus operators, ignored the complaints made by the public.

The authorities officially allowed all bus operators to temporarily hike their fares by a maximum of 25 percent.

A passenger on a Mustika Sari bus paid Rp 70,000 (US$10) for a trip to Pati in Central Jakarta. The official tariff, including the sanctioned hike, is Rp 34,000.

A large crowd of would-be passengers could be seen at Pulogadung and Kampung Rambutan bus terminals in East Jakarta and at Gambir railway station in Central Jakarta.

Pulogadung terminal, which serves people heading for various destination in Sumatra and Central and East Java, had seen a total of some 26,000 travelers passing through on Wednesday. Until 8 p.m. on Thursday, 11,000 holiday makers had departed from the terminal.

The amount of people leaving from Kampung Rambutan terminal to towns in West and Central Java reached 39,000 on Wednesday, and until 8 p.m. on Thursday night, 22,000.

Officials at the two major bus terminals believed the numbers would increase until midnight.

"We still expect more high volumes of passengers today," Pulogadung terminal official Sutardi said.

No stranded

He said the sea of people that were flooding the terminal until late afternoon were not stranded, but rather waiting for buses which would drive them to their hometowns.

"The amount of buses is actually adequate to carry all these passengers, but the buses are arriving at the terminal between two or three hours late due to heavy traffic congestion in certain parts of Java's northern coastal road.

I hope all the passengers can be on their way by the evening," he added.

Antara has reported traffic congestion in certain areas in West Java, such as in Pamanukan, Subang, and Indramayu since Wednesday, mainly due to drivers' lack of discipline.

Operators at the railway stations in the capital have also recorded a significant increase in travelers over the past two days.

Spokesperson for the state-owned sole railway company, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Zainal Abidin, said on Thursday a total of 66.391 travelers left the capital by train on Wednesday.

Until 2 p.m. on Thursday, the number had reached some 30,000 passengers, mostly those departing from Gambir and Pasar Senen railway stations in Central Jakarta.

By comparison, the railway company reported 47,423 holiday makers leaving on Tuesday.

But according to Zainal, this season's figure was slightly lower than the previous Idul Fitri's peak of 85,418 travelers in one day.

He suggested the relatively low number was probably due to the long holiday period which started days before the traditional exodus time.

"Vacation time started two weeks ago, so the travelers -- little by little -- left the city during the Christmas and New Year's holidays," Zainal told reporters at Pasar Senen railway station.

But still the many passengers had forced the railway company to use some of its five reserve 10-car trains.

"At 11 p.m. on Wednesday, we had to dispatch two back-up trains to accommodate passengers remaining at Pasar Senen station who had failed to book seats," he said.

Zainal added the train operator would soon face a new problem as it estimated returning Idul Fitri travelers will reach a peak on the first day of Idul Fitri.

"Learning from past experience, people normally choose to come back to Jakarta shortly after the Idul Fitri prayer. We estimate the amount of passengers will be extra high as they will return at the same time," he said.

Zainal said that the company is now planning its operation to anticipate returning Idul Fitri travelers. (01/05) Sun shines -- Page 6