Jakartans told to use additional bus terminals

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja called on Jakartans going home for Idul Fitri to leave from the city's temporary bus terminals instead of thronging the four main terminals.

He reminded travelers yesterday the city had set up 15 temporary bus terminals to accommodate passengers.

"The additional bus terminals are to ensure passengers leave the city in comfort, without having to crowd into the main terminals," Surjadi said from the passenger ship Ciremai in Tanjung Priok harbor, North Jakarta.

Surjadi was aboard ship on his annual inspection tour of transport preparations for Idul Fitri. On his tour he also visited Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta, the Kampung Rambutan and Pulo Gadung bus terminals in East Jakarta, and Senen railway station.

The governor was accompanied by City Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga and city officials.

The temporary terminals are being serviced by regular and additional buses deployed by state-run DAMRI, PPD and private firms.

Surjadi said many people did not know they could catch their favorite buses at the additional terminals.

At one additional terminal, the Senayan sports ground's southern parking lot, there are 638 economy and 511 non-economy buses, mostly from regular companies.

Surjadi urged people to use additional buses saying it was unfortunate many would only use their favorite companies.

"Even though their favorite buses are packed, they won't leave with other buses which are still empty," Surjadi said.

He said such behavior provided ample opportunity for scalpers to extort money.

He said people could easily get upset crowding for hours in bus terminals to get tickets and catch buses.

"We intend to prevent the unexpected," Surjadi said.

Surjadi also urged people to pay attention to weather conditions.

"We don't know whether there will be floods or not. But, weather is unpredictable and those who want to leave should prepare themselves, or they are going to celebrate Idul Fitri floating in water," Surjadi said.

Most of the sites he inspected were still functioning normally.

"The Idul Fitri exodus will peak between Thursday and Friday," Surjadi said. One reason is because many companies have only recently paid Idul Fitri allowances.

Meanwhile Jakarta Traffic Police Chief Col. Ansyar Roem said he expected the peak on Thursday as families celebrating Chinese New Year (Imlek) were only likely to allow their servants to go home a day before the celebrations. This year Imlek falls on Feb. 7.

Other temporary terminals are in Grogol and Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, Pinang Ranti, East Jakarta, Tanjung Priok and Muara Angke, North Jakarta, and on Jl. Kapten P. Tendean and Jl. Abdul Rochim, South Jakarta.

Surjadi said again that returning Jakartans should not bring relatives or friends back to the city.

"Most who come to the city after Idul Fitri are unskilled," he said.

"Several will end up as vendors or beggars, or take a short cuts to riches by becoming hoodlums," Surjadi said.

He said the city was cooperating with other provinces to curb the increase of illegal newcomers, and to conduct raids on those without Jakarta identity cards.

"But, all our appeals are soon forgotten when local people hear success stories from the city," Surjadi said.

He said it was difficult to curb illegal newcomers without an even distribution of economic and trade activities.

Until 5 p.m. yesterday 18,720 people had departed the city from six railway stations, a decrease compared to the 35,110 Monday. The six stations recorded 258,316 departures since Jan. 25.

By 2 p.m., 41,035 travelers had left on 1,158 buses from the city's four main bus terminals and 15 additional ones. On Monday, 26,388 passengers were recorded leaving on 630 buses.

Of the estimated three million to leave the city, 1.6 million are predicted to leave by bus. (ste/bsr)