No more new taxi permits: Council

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No more new taxi permits: Councilroute was revoked on Saturday.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)