Rampant violations in sale of bus tickets: DLLAJ
Rampant violations in sale of bus tickets: DLLAJ
JAKARTA (JP): The head of City Land Transportation Agency
(DLLAJ), J.P. Sepang, expressed concern yesterday over rampant
violations in bus ticketing for those intending to leave the city
for next week's Idul Fitri holiday.
During an impromptu visit to Lebak Bulus Bus Terminal in South
Jakarta and Kampung Rambutan Bus Terminal in East Jakarta, he
found that almost every ticket booth displayed misleading ticket
prices.
Most of the tickets were either sold above the government-set
prices on busy routes or for less on routes which were not in
high demand.
A one-way ticket to Wonogiri, Central Java, for example, sold
for Rp 32,000 instead of the fixed price of Rp 31,600.
A ticket for the trip to Pacitan, East Java, however, sold for
Rp 32,000 instead of Rp 39,900.
It is feared discounted prices will spark a tariff war among
bus companies, thereby ruining the government's efforts at
regulation.
In some cases, buses were not available but tickets were still
sold to passengers.
With Indonesia reeling from the economic crisis, the increases
in ticket prices, however small, are an unnecessary burden for
locals.
"This is outrageous!" Sepang said. "Don't trick passengers.
"The amount taken from each ticket may be small, but if it is
multiplied by millions of passengers... it adds up to a
tremendous amount of corruption."
Sepang lashed out at those responsible in front of puzzled
terminal officials and tore down all the lists of prices for
tickets.
"I don't care if you have to work 24 hours. Finish the new
ticket list properly."
As of today all tickets are expected to be sold in accordance
with the government's regulations with only a 25 percent charge
being added to tickets during the holiday season.
He said the agency would also put undercover officers on buses
to prevent passengers being forced to pay illegal charges.
The agency will also provide a "criticism box" in each
terminal for passengers who want to file complaints.
Senayan's east parking lot, in South Jakarta, has been turned
into an additional terminal and those traveling to Purwokerto,
Solo, Tegal (all in Central Java) and Cirebon in West Java have
been advised to make use of the terminal instead of flocking to
Pulogadung terminal in East Jakarta.
The Jakarta office of the Ministry of Transportation said at
least 7,801 regular buses have been prepared in anticipation of
the exodus.
Another 1,400 additional buses and 700 vehicles have been
assigned to the Senayan parking lot terminal.
The Armed Forces has also offered trucks to ferry
holidaymakers.
To accommodate an estimated 1.4 million passengers, 14
additional terminals have been readied as a backup for the four
main terminals -- Pulogadung and Kampung Rambutan in East
Jakarta, Kalideres in West Jakarta and Lebak Bulus in South
Jakarta.
A total of 3.5 million people are expected to leave the city
for the Idul Fitri holiday.
In a bid to avoid any possible accidents, Jakarta Police
Traffic Directorate yesterday conducted urine and blood pressure
tests on drivers of buses which will serve people at the
Pulogadung and Kampung Rambutan bus stations.
A total of 70 drivers were chosen from dozens of bus companies
to participate in the random tests.
Chief Fachruddin Bakar said that the tests were conducted to
anticipate the possibility of drunken drivers.
"We want only drivers who are in a good and healthy condition
to be driving buses."
Similar testing was also staged late last month. About 11 of
the 70 drivers tested were declared not in good condition for
driving. Alcohol was detected in samples taken from five of the
11 drivers. (edt/ind/cst)