New minivans to replace 'bemo' by February
New minivans to replace 'bemo' by February
JAKARTA (JP): New minivans will replace three-wheeled bemo by
the end of February, the Association of Public Transport Owners
(Organda) city branch head said Wednesday.
Aip Syarifuddin said 800 bemo would be replaced by minivans
adding to the 125 bemo already replaced. Bemo owners will pay Rp
24 million for the minivans in monthly installments.
Bemo are being replaced by 1,300cc minivans made by Suzuki,
Mitsubishi and Daihatsu.
By the end of February just 171 of the city's original 1,096
bemo will remain. The owners or operators of the remaining bemo
have not yet got public transport permits for the new minivans.
The minivans will serve the same 20 routes bemo served.
An estimated 1,000 bemo operate without permits.
However, a Land Transportation Control Agency official said he
doubted the program could be completed on time.
"Since the program was launched in April, only 125 bemo have
been replaced," the official said.
The Ramadhan fasting month in January would make the program
harder to implement because owners and drivers would need extra
income for Idul Fitri, he said.
Next year's elections meant the government also had to be
cautious in implementing sensitive programs, he said.
"The program may stimulate social and political protests," he
said.
Earlier schedule
The bemo replacement program was originally intended to be
completed last August but bemo owners' protests delayed the
program.
Bemo owners said the down payment and the monthly installments
for the minivans were too high.
They said the minivans had an Rp 18 million retail price but
they had to pay for Rp 24 million. The Rp 24 million includes a
public transport permit.
Aip said a joint team of Organda and traffic control agency
officials would monitor the program and report to the governor.
Traffic control agency head J.P. Sepang said earlier the
replacement program would make it easier to identify unregistered
bemo because they would not be replaced.
The minivans will use liquefied petroleum gas, as part of the
city's effort to reduce air pollution.
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said recently all new public
transport vehicles had to use natural gas. (02)