No more new taxi permits: Council

JAKARTA (JP): City Council's Commission D for development affairs suggested yesterday that the government not issue new taxi operation permits in Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi.

Commission chairman Ali Wongso H.S. said many taxi companies were registered in the three cities, but their cabs operated in Jakarta.

"The cabs add to traffic problems in the city," Ali said after meeting with officials from the city office of the Ministry of Transportation and the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ).

He urged the Directorate of Land Transportation to limit the number of taxis in Bogor, Bekasi and Tangerang based on the number of people living in the three cities.

He suspected the amount of registered taxies in the three cities was greater than what people needed so the cabs moved to Jakarta.

Ali did not give details on the taxi companies in the three cities which operate in Jakarta.

The taxi companies pay taxes to the three cities, but their cabs operate here, he said. "But taxes are not the main issue here."

The issuance of new taxi permits in Jakarta has been closed.

According to data from DLLAJ, until January, there were 20,298 registered taxis from 28 taxi companies operating in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the commission also met with yesterday driver representatives of Kopaja buses which went on strike Friday.

The drivers thanked the commission for delivering their complaint to DLLAJ.

More than 80 Kopaja buses plying the Manggarai-Blok M route went on strike, protesting three Pahala Kencana buses which ply a similar route.

Ali told the drivers that Pahala Kencana's permit for the No more new taxi permits: Councilroute was revoked on Saturday. (jun)