Minister assures safe trips ahead of holidays

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Agum Gumelar has assured holidaymakers bound for Central Java of a safe passage, despite concerns about possible landslides that may endanger their trips.

In a visit here over the weekend to inspect preparations for the upcoming holiday season, Agum said road repairs were nearing completion and heavy equipment was already on standby for quick dispatch to disaster-prone areas.

"I have already asked Ibu Erna Witoelar to speed up the completion of road repair projects," Agum said, referring to the minister of settlement and regional infrastructure.

Agum said two cranes would be placed near railway lines susceptible to landslides, particularly along the southern coast line.

"The cranes will be dispatched to railway stations close to areas prone to landslides such as Purworejo, Kroya, Purwokerto and Cilacap," he said.

Apart from train services, Agum assured that the government could provide an adequate fleet of public vehicles to transport the increased number of holiday travelers.

A drastic increase in the number of holiday revelers is expected because three big holidays -- Christmas, Idul Fitri and New Year -- will fall in a one-week period.

Director General of Land Transportation Susmono Susilo, who accompanied the minister, estimated that 13 million people would travel by road to celebrate the holidays, a 10 percent increase from last year.

A spokesman for the state railway company PT KAI, Gatot Wibowo, said 250 trains would be operated every day between Dec. 17, 2000 to Jan. 22, 2001 in anticipation of the boom in passenger numbers.

He also said the company would provide special trains for the disabled, pregnant women, the elderly and children under five years of age.

Gatot added that railway line repair targets have already been 80 percent achieved, and would be completed before Christmas.

Agum also said his ministry had intensively cooperated with the National Police to preempt any potential security problems during the holidays. (44)