Only 26 percent of regular buses run daily

Only 26 percent of regular buses run daily

JAKARTA (JP): Only 26 percent, or 439, of the 1,679 regular
buses operate daily, the head of the City Land Transportation
Agency said yesterday.

The head of the agency, J.P. Sepang, said yesterday a recent
two-week investigation showed that several regular buses had been
converted into non-air-conditioned limited passenger buses, while
several others were neglected.

According to a city traffic rule issued last year, owners must
comply with a 30:30:40 operating ratio rule. This means they must
operate 40 regular buses and 30 non-AC limited passenger buses to
every 30 AC-limited passenger buses.

Sepang said the investigation also found several bus operators
had left their damaged regular buses idle at garages and only
operated limited passenger air-conditioned buses.

Among the Agency's findings announced last week, the Mayasari
Bakti and Bianglala bus companies were found to have failed to
operate several of their regular buses.

"We are going to take action against the errant bus operators
by revoking their permits to operate air-conditioned limited
passenger buses," Sepang said.

He said revoking permits to run regular buses, which the
Agency would not do, would be just what bus operators wished.

Fares for regular buses are Rp 300 while those for limited
passenger AC buses are Rp 1,800 per person. Fares for non-AC
limited passenger buses are Rp 700.

Revoking permits to run the AC buses would be a more effective
deterrent to stop bus operators from violating their permits to
run regular buses.

Sepang acknowledged the sanction would effect AC bus
passengers but said it was the only available option.

Passengers had earlier complained regular buses were
disappearing from several routes, leaving only the more
expensive, AC or non-AC limited passenger buses.

Meanwhile, an official who declined to be identified, said
yesterday that a bus operator had used army officers to threaten
the city officials who had towed away one of his buses.

Eight army officers went to the city office where the bus was
kept, he said, and demanded the bus be returned to its owner the
next day.

The day before, the source said, the owner had come to the
site to ask the officials to release his bus, but the request was
turned down.

The source declined to say whether the army officers were paid
for the threat job, saying the owner was a friend of the
officers.

Meanwhile Sepang confirmed the news.

The bus operator would have his permit revoked temporarily for
making threats, Sepang said.

Permits can be temporarily withdrawn for periods of two weeks
up to several months depending on the violation.

Sepang said the company's identity would be announced today.
(11)