Idul Fitri exodus peaks amid rampant fare violations

JAKARTA (JP): As the Idul Fitri exodus nearing its peak over the weekend, many bus passengers fell prey to illegal fare hikes or collapsed after waiting at least three hours for buses while fasting in the heat.

They were among more than 123,000 people who left the city yesterday mainly for Central Java, East Java and Sumatra.

By 8 p.m., 72,402 travelers had left on 897 buses which departed the city's main terminals: Kampung Rambutan, Pulogadung, East Jakarta, Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta and Kalideres in West Jakarta.

Another 23,165 had left from 15 smaller terminals on 242 buses.

By 5 p.m. yesterday, 27,628 people had departed from six of the city's railway stations. Almost half of them boarded trains at Senen, where most economy tickets were available.

Fares hikes were up to twice the legal fare rise of 25 percent, effective yesterday, a week before Idul Fitri on Sunday and Monday. Legal fares will return to normal on Feb. 19.

But hopeful passengers said there was no point in reporting illegal increases to authorities.

Passengers have been asked to pay higher fares since Saturday.

In Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, a Gaya Putra bus charged Rp 35,000 yesterday for a seat to Solo. The permitted price is Rp 14,500.

At least 14 other fare hikes occurred at Pulogadung and Lebak Bulus. An employee in a ticket booth said this was normal and that fares would continue to increase above the permitted level until the day before Idul Fitri.

The head of Lebak Bulus terminal, Yusran Tanjung, said three summons had been issued for errant bus firms. The head of the Land Transport and Control Agency, J.P. Sepang, said earlier the heaviest punishment for repeat offenders who raised fares by more than 100 percent would be the cancellation of their operating permits.

Suspected bus crews were allowed to operate until after Idul Fitri when their sanctions would be decided, Sepang said.

Roads to bus terminals and railway stations were heavily congested yesterday.

The exodus will continue until Thursday with people from towns closer to Greater Jakarta returning home. Traffic is expected to ease Saturday.

The municipality predicts that more than three million people will go to their hometowns in Java and Sumatra for the holidays.

Dozens who fainted yesterday at Pulogadung bus terminal were taken to health centers. One woman said in the afternoon that she and her family had been waiting since before sunrise for their bus to Purworejo, Central Java. Ticket booths opened at 8 a.m.

"I arrived before sahur (predawn breakfast) and waited in front of the ticket booth until noon," Maryani said while being fanned by her children. She said they ate their predawn breakfast in front of the booth.

Passenger numbers at bus terminals began to increase Saturday.

On Saturday, 41,993 holiday makers left Pulogadung on 1,093 buses. On average, 20,000 people depart each day from the terminal.

Pulogadung has 1,200 buses to transport up to 50,000 people a day for the holidays.

Train tickets were sold out at Gambir yesterday, but scalpers offered to sell tickets to Solo for Feb. 3, Feb. 8 and Feb. 9 for Rp 150,000 (US$62.6). The normal rate is Rp 80,000.

People traveling by public buses and trains and private cars have also crowded the route to Merak, West Java, where ferries will take them to Bakauheni, the southern tip of Sumatra.

A new port has been opened to relieve Merak. When the Windu Karsa Pratama ferry landed at the port especially for holiday makers, it was immediately filled by 63 private cars and about 200 passengers.

The new port was built in two months. Ferries have begun shipping the thousands of hopeful passengers who have queued there since Saturday evening. (ste/11/anr)

Rented cars -- Page 3