ITS Deploys 27 Free Minibus Fleet for 1,180 Members of Campus Community
Rector of ITS Professor Bambang Pramujati announced in Surabaya on Saturday that the programme represents a routine campus initiative to assist students and members of the academic community in obtaining travel facilities to return to their hometowns during Lebaran.
“This activity is concrete evidence that ITS is committed to providing the best facilities in terms of safety and comfort for travel by its members,” Pramujati said before launching the 27th fleet of buses.
He explained that the number of participants in the free homecoming programme this year reached 1,180 people, representing a 32 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
The increase was supported by cooperation from various parties, including the East Java Provincial Government through the Department of Transportation, the ITS Parents’ Association (Ikoma), the ITS Alumni Association (IKA), as well as support from Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) and Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI).
“This programme is a manifestation of the government’s commitment to maintaining safe, comfortable, and affordable homecoming travel mobility for the public,” he said.
He added that the ITS free homecoming programme this year serves 19 routes, deploying 27 buses covering areas of East Java, Central Java, and West Java and Banten.
For the East Java region, there are nine routes: Pasuruan–Probolinggo–Lumajang–Jember, Lamongan–Bojonegoro–Tuban, Bondowoso–Situbondo–Banyuwangi, Malang–Batu, Madiun–Magetan, Ponorogo–Pacitan, Kediri–Pare–Trenggalek, Tulungagung–Blitar, and Mojokerto–Jombang–Nganjuk–Ngawi.
Meanwhile, five routes heading to Central Java include Rembang–Pati–Kudus–Jepara–Demak, Sragen–Surakarta–Boyolali–Salatiga–Semarang–Kendal, Yogyakarta–Purworejo–Kebumen–Cilacap, Surakarta–Klaten–Magelang–Temanggung–Wonosobo–Purbalingga–Purwokerto, and Batang–Pekalongan–Pemalang–Tegal–Brebes.
Additionally, there are five routes to the western region of Java, including routes to Bandung, Bekasi, Depok–Jakarta, Tangerang–Serang–Cilegon, and Cirebon–Sumedang–Subang–Purwakarta–Karawang–Bogor.
One student participant from the Jabodetabek region (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi), Ahmad Maulana, expressed his appreciation for the programme as it helps save on transportation costs when returning home.
According to him, the ITS free homecoming programme not only provides transportation but also offers additional facilities for participants, making the journey home lighter and more comfortable.