Hungarian buses may ply city roads

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso announced on Monday that the administration would probably use Hungarian-made Icarus buses for its delayed project of a single bus lane along city roads.

"In addition to quality buses, the Hungarians have also offered to invest in the project," Sutiyoso told reporters after meeting with State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministry of Economy and Transport Imre Rethy at City Hall.

But Sutiyoso said the city administration would not use the Icarus buses during a pilot run of the project, which would be launched later this year.

The administration earlier explored the possibility of using buses from China or South Korea, but there has been no final word yet from officials.

Besides the possible use of Icarus buses, Rethy said that Budapest hoped to cooperate with Jakarta in transportation in general, such as mass rapid transportation.

Bus lanes in the city have been postponed until at least next year due to financial reasons and the absence of a public campaign. --JP