Idul Fitri influx creates headache for city officials

JAKARTA (JP): There is no let up for harried transportation officials, now dealing with an influx of Idul Fitri travelers through the city's bus terminals and railway stations after the logistical nightmare of an exodus in the past week.

On Wednesday, the second day of the Idul Fitri holiday, 42,670 people arrived at Pulogadung Bus Terminal, one of the city's major intercity terminals.

Pulogadung data showed the passengers were transported in 777 buses from various cities of origin in Java and Sumatra.

The figure is sizably larger than the 25,676 recorded on the second day of Idul Fitri last year.

It may have been due to passengers returning to work on Thursday. Last year's Idul Fitri fell on a Friday and Saturday.

As of 2 p.m. on Thursday, another 2,380 passengers had arrived in the city by 142 buses.

The peak of the influx is predicted for Saturday.

An estimated 2.6 million people left the city through its bus terminals, train stations, Tanjung Priok Seaport and private vehicles, Sjarin Toruan, head of the Jakarta Population Agency, said on Thursday.

"The departure constituted a little less than one third of Jakarta's 10 million residents," he said.

Despite the influx of people, thousands were at Pulogadung and Gambir Railway Station on Thursday ready to begin their journeys to hometowns.

Several people complained they were duped into buying tickets for nonexistent services.

Ratih of Bekasi said she bought two tickets to Madura, East Java, for Rp 211,000 from a man who identified himself as a bus crew member from the Pahala Kencana company.

"When I reached here, not only did I find out that two bus tickets to Madura cost Rp 204,000, the bus itself is not here.

"I don't understand what is going on. I have lost my Rp 211,000 for nothing. I bought the tickets from the man outside of the terminal."

Ratih's friend, Ayu, also of Bekasi, purchased a ticket for an air-conditioned bus to Surabaya for Rp 105,000, also from someone claiming to be a crew member.

Like her hapless friend, she could not locate the bus.

"The crew member was someone from the Mawar bus firm. I don't know what to do."

J.P. Sepang, head of the City Land Transportation Agency, said he received many similar complaints.

"All we can do is just urge all passengers to buy bus tickets in the terminal compound and not somewhere outside."

Meanwhile, hundreds of people were seen lined up at Gambir for tickets to Surakarta, Central Java, and Bandung, West Java.

Zaenal Abidin, a spokesman for the Jakarta office of state- owned railway company Perumka, said 650,321 people had left via the city's eight railway stations during the Jan. 4 to Jan. 20 period.

Data is being compiled on the number of people entering the city through the stations. (ylt)