Minister assures safe trips ahead of holidays
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)