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)