Merger of bus lines to improve service

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Economy and Development Tubagus M. Rais said over the weekend that the city administration is conducting a study on the possibility of merging city bus companies in a bid to better serve the public.

Currently there are more than 10 bus companies operating in the city, including the state-owned Perusahaan Pengangkutan Djakarta (PPD) and a number of privately-run firms such as Mayasari Bhakti, Himpurna, Kowanbisata, Bianglala, Masstrans, Koantas Bima, Metro Mini, Kopaja, Mikrolet and KWK.

"The fewer bus companies operating, the easier for the city administration to monitor transit services," he said, adding that many unroadworthy buses still cruise Jakarta's streets.

The Jakarta administration decided to merge bus companies, such as the Saudaranta, Maranthama and Gamadi, into a single company, the PPD in 1978 as part of concerted efforts to improve service to the public.

Rais also said that the administration will issue a decree requiring bus companies, both the state-owned and the privately- run ones, to paint their buses in only two different colors.

"The color of state-owned buses will be different from the privately-run ones. There will be only two colors," he said, referring to a number of privately-run buses, which currently sport a number of different colors.

PPD buses are painted white and dark blue, while private companies' buses sport bright colors, such as orange, yellow, green and even metallic pink. (09)