Jakartans told to use additional bus terminals
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)