Night public transport is urgent: Council

Night public transport is urgent: Council

JAKARTA (JP): The City Council has once again urged the
municipal administration to provide a night transport system to
support the city's service and trade sectors.

"Night transportation is important for transportation of
goods, as activities here occur both in daylight and at night
time," MH Ritonga, chairman of the council, said Monday.

A night transport system will also be helpful for people who
travel home late because they work overtime, Ritonga said as
quoted by Antara.

Another advantage is that it will help reduce daytime
congestion, especially if container and cargo trucks are only
allowed to enter the city at night, said the former city police
chief.

Ritonga also called on the city administration to consider
extending the three-in-one traffic policy to other streets,
saying the restriction has reduced the number of private cars on
the road, and in turn eased traffic congestion.

Currently the restriction is only applied on three major
roads, Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Gatot Subroto, from 6:30
a.m. to 10 a.m.

"The city administration should also apply the policy both in
the morning and in the afternoon," he added.

Tb Rais, deputy governor for economy and development, said the
administration has been considering operating a night transport
system and will asked the state-owned transportation company PPD
to start with several routes.

However Rais did not say when PPD will start the new system.

"We cannot as yet fix the deadline, but it will not be long
now," he said.

Earlier reports said PPD was expected to operate the night
buses next month.

He also said the city administration has yet to obtain
approval from the Ministry of Transportation for the plan. (lem)