Idul Fitri exodus may fall short of forecasts

JAKARTA (JP): The number of residents leaving the city by bus ahead of this year's Idul Fitri holiday is not expected to reach the set target of 1.2 million, down from 1.4 million last year, an official said on Thursday.

J.P. Sepang, head of the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ), said the sharp drop could possibly be a result of the severe impact of the prolonged economic crisis.

A large number of the seasonal laborers from West and Central Java who had filled the city left for their hometowns last year after they lost their jobs.

"The laborers left in masses in the months of May, June and July last year. Another factor is the economic crisis which has made bus tickets unaffordable to many people," Sepang said.

Sepang made the statement during a visit to the Pulogadung bus terminal by Governor Sutiyoso, City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman and Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman.

The governor's team, inspecting the city's preparations for the annual Idul Fitri exodus, also visited Senen railway station and the passenger terminal of Tanjung Priok harbor.

Sepang said that on Thursday, five days before Idul Fitri, 24,535 people left from the Pulogadung terminal. This figure, he said, was down from the 53,063 who left the terminal during the corresponding period of last year.

Sepang added that the terminal was currently faced with a lack of intercity buses for cities in Central Java; namely Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Semarang and Purwokerto.

"It is the rainy season so we are afraid that the buses could get stuck on the roads because of flooding. If the buses were unable to return to the terminal, thousands could be stranded here," Sepang said, adding that on the coming Saturday, when the number of passengers was expected to peak, 254 more buses would be deployed at the terminal to cope with the increase.

Activity at the Pudogadung bus terminal on Thursday was not as busy as previous days, and lines at ticket counters were shorter than usually seen during the holiday exodus. In previous days, long lines began to form at dawn as people waited up to six hours to try and purchase a bus ticket to their hometowns.

It has also been reported that bus operators have increased ticket prices by up to 50 percent above official rates to take advantage of the increased holiday demand.

To add to the misery of bus passengers, prices are further raised by "ticket brokers", who swarm the terminals hawking their wares.

When asked about the matter, Sepang laughed it off, saying that these brokers never operated at the city's bus terminals.

"Reporters like to make up stories," Sepang said, adding that a 1,000-strong security force of DLLAJ officials had been deployed at the capital's bus terminals to ensure the safety of passengers leaving the capital.

Contradicting Sepang's remark, however, Herman, a passenger at the terminal, was forced to pay Rp 100,000, higher than the official price of Rp 88,000, to get a bus ticket on an air- conditioned bus to Madura, East Java.

"What else could I do? I just want to go home," Herman said.

After inspecting conditions at Tanjung Priok harbor, where at least 36 security officials have been deployed, the governor's group proceeded to Senen railway station, where there has also been a noticeable decrease in the number of passengers leaving the city for the holiday.

"There is a sharp decrease in the number of economy class passengers leaving from Senen station compared to the figures from last year," Sutiyoso said.

The general director of Perumka railway company, Edy Haryoto, said that the station recorded 10,502 departing economy class passengers on Wednesday, down from 17,120 during the same period of last year.

"However, we have seen a 40 percent increase in the number of passengers in the business and executive classes compared to the numbers from last year," Edy said.

Touching on the subject of "ticket brokers", he added that a reward of Rp 200,000 and a free ticket would be given to anybody who could show him one.

"We have no scalpers at this station," Edy asserted. (ylt)