Negligent AC passenger-bus owners warned
JAKARTA (JP): The City Land Transport Agency has threatened to revoke permits of air-conditioned (AC) limited passenger buses owned by bus companies which decline to fully operate regular buses.
The chairman of the Jakarta branch of the Association of Public Transportation Owners (Organda), Aip Syarifuddin, said on Wednesday the agency had set the end of next month as the deadline for all bus companies to abide by existing rules.
"By the end of June all city bus firms are asked to comply with bus operation regulations set by the government, otherwise their permits for AC limited passenger buses will be revoked," Aip said.
According to a 1996 government regulation, each city bus firm is required to operate their fleet under a 40-30-30 ratio, namely 40 percent for AC limited passenger buses, 30 percent for non-AC limited passenger buses and 30 percent for regular buses.
The bus fare is set by the government at Rp 1,800 (U.S. 70 cents) for AC limited passenger buses, Rp 700 for non-AC limited passenger buses and Rp 300 for regular ones.
Reports said that a number of regular buses disappeared from service along designated routes because they were converted into non-AC limited passenger buses.
The agency recently stopped the operations of several bus companies because they had breached regulations by charging Rp 700 for fares on their regular buses.
Its findings also uncovered that only 439 of the 1,679 regular buses, which should be in operation in the city, were operating.
Aip said that most bus companies attributed the removal of their regular buses from designated routes on their inability to repair damaged buses.
"But, we agree with the agency to punish bus companies which fail to operate regular buses, because this act violates regulations," he said.
He warned that most bus companies would suffer great losses if the agency revoked AC limited passenger bus permits.
"Most bus companies heavily depend on profits from AC limited passenger buses to subsidize the operation of regular buses," Aip said.
Meanwhile, Councilor M. Rodja of the United Development Party urged the city to eliminate non-AC limited passenger buses and to convert them into regular buses.
By eliminating non-AC limited passengers buses, there will be only two types left: regular and AC limited passenger ones, he said.
"So far, there's no difference between the services of regular and non-AC limited passenger buses. Passengers who are forced to pay more on non-AC limited passenger buses still have to stand up because of overcrowding," Rodja said yesterday.
Under city regulations, limited passenger buses are only allowed to carry 10 passengers over capacity during peak hours. These regulations are often disregarded by bus drivers.
Latest data shows that 3,691 buses are in operation in the city. Of these, 1,900 are classified as non-AC limited passenger buses, 672 as AC limited passenger buses, and the remaining 1,119 as regular ones. The buses ply 217 routes throughout the city.
Transport projects
In a related development, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said that two transportation projects -- the proposed three-tier transit system and the Manggarai integrated transport project -- would go on even though the two were not included in the revised city planning.
"Both projects will be constructed," Haryanto told reporters at City Hall.
He said the construction of the two projects would be in line with Governor Surjadi Soedirdja's development policy.
When asked whether city planning should be changed according to the demand, he argued that planning should not be too "static". "Planning can be changed according to progress and demand," he said.
Both projects, being advanced under different consortia led by President Soeharto's eldest daughter Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, were not included in the 1985/2010 revised city planning presented at City Hall earlier this month. (ste)