New firms invited to join busway consortium

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

TransJakarta Busway Management (BP TransJakarta) says that firms interested in taking part in the operation of the busway project still have the chance to join consortium TransBatavia.

"The City Transportation Agency has granted four bus operators whose routes are affected by new busway routes roles in the operation of the busway, but will also leave other parts to new companies wanting to participate in the project," Irzal Z. Djamal said over the weekend.

BP TransJakarta is the board assigned by the city administration to oversee the entire busway project.

The new companies, he said, would also be in charge of the procurement of buses, like TransBatavia's role in the project.

"Ideally, the new busway routes will be served by 204 buses. At least 126 buses will be purchased by four companies grouped in the TransBatavia, while the remaining 78 will be provided by the new companies," he said.

The four companies grouped in TransBatavia are PT Mayasari Bakti with the lion's share of 50 percent in the consortium, followed by Steady Safe with 23 percent, state bus company PPD with 22 percent and PT Metromini with 5 percent.

After successfully launching the first 12.9-kilometer busway route from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta early last year, the administration has now finalized the development of the second and third busway corridors.

The second corridor links a 14-kilometer route from Pulogadung in East Jakarta to Harmoni in Central Jakarta, while the third is 19 kilometers in length, stretching from Harmoni to Kalideres in West Jakarta.

The administration plans to develop 15 busway corridors by 2010.

Planned busway corridors

Pulogadung-Harmoni route: - planned bus stops: 23 locations - number of buses: 83 units allocations: - Mayasari Bakti: 26 units - PPD : 11 units - Steady Safe : 9 units - Metromini : 5 units - new operators : 32 units - estimated passengers: 6,860 passengers/hour/two directions

Harmoni-Kalideres route: - planned bus stops: 16 locations - number of buses: 121 buses allocations: - Mayasari Bakti: 37 units - Steady Safe : 21 units - PPD : 17 units - new operators : 46 units - estimated passengers: 8,786 passengers/hour/two directions

Source: BP TransJakarta Busway Management