Rain may delay bus arrivals at terminals
Rain may delay bus arrivals at terminals
JAKARTA (JP): An official warned holiday travelers on Monday
of possible congestion at intercity bus terminals during the peak
days of the upcoming Christmas and Idul Fitri holidays.
Nurachman, chief of the East Jakarta Land Transportation
Agency (DLLAJR), said congestion at the bus terminals would occur
as many buses would arrive late at the terminals due to the rainy
season.
"The drivers will not take any risks by driving more quickly
due to the rainy season.
"Therefore, the buses will reach Jakarta very late. And it
will cause congestion in the terminals as the buses will arrive
at about the same time," Nurachman told reporters at his office.
He said the delay in the arrival of the buses would be caused
by traffic jams along the northern coastal roads of Java.
"During our recent inspection, we found that some bridges were
damaged along the main routes, especially the northern coast of
Java, including the Tanjung bridge in West Java.
"The local public works offices are still repairing the
bridges, and this is causing traffic jams along the northern
coastal roads," he said.
East Jakarta's DLLAJR office supervises three intercity bus
terminals -- namely Kampung Rambutan, Pulogadung and Rawamangun.
Nurachman said his department could not provide any solutions
to deal with the problem, except to manage the flow of buses
arriving at the terminals.
"For example, the Pulogadung terminal is too small to serve
the buses, and it needs further development.
"However, the development project cannot be realized within a
short period of time," he said.
As well as warning of possible congestion at major intercity
bus terminals during the peak days of the Christmas and Idul
Fitri festivities, Nurachman asked travelers to depart and return
to Jakarta prior to and after the peak days.
He said travelers should leave and return to Jakarta seven
days before and seven days after the Idul Fitri holiday.
"If necessary, they should not travel to their hometowns, but
spend their holidays in the capital," he said.
"Moreover, going on a trip during the rainy season brings with
it the risk of accident," he said.
During the festivities, which will fall at the end of this
month, the city land transportation agency would set up
coordination posts at the respective bus terminals, to assist and
provide information for travelers.
"The posts will be set up on Dec. 17, while the police and
youth volunteers will join the scheme to assist travelers," he
said.
He added that his office would take stern measures against any
bus crews illegally hiking the bus fares above those set by the
government.
"My office will revoke the company's permit if they are proven
guilty of illegally hiking fares," he said.
He explained that more than 50 percent of the city's holiday
travelers would travel to their hometowns through the three East
Jakarta intercity bus terminals.
The city's Land Transportation Agency has predicted that some
1.2 million holiday travelers would depart the capital in a total
of 6,321 buses. (asa)