Idul Fitri exodus peaks amid rampant fare violations
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)
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