Merger of bus lines to improve service

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)