Restriction on taxi operation finally lifted

Restriction on taxi operation finally lifted

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta and West Java reached an agreement yesterday that will permit taxis to operate in both zones.

The agreement between the Jakarta and West Java land transport control agencies was approved by the deputy governor for economic and development affairs, Tb. M. Rais.

Rais said that Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi should be seen as one area.

He added that he would like to read the details of the agreement.

Last week, the Jakarta and West Java land transport control agencies, along with the transportation owners' association, Organda, agreed to lift the previous agreement, which restricts the operation of taxis across the city boundary.

Under the new agreement, taxis from Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi are allowed to operate in Jakarta and Jakarta taxis are allowed to operate in those areas of West Java.

Head of the Jakarta chapter of Organda, Aip Sjarifuddin, said the most important aspect of the new agreement is the cooperation between the two provincial administrations in controlling the number of taxi operating in the area.

"The cooperation is important to guarantee that no party suffers as a result of the agreement," Aip said, as quoted by the Jayakarta daily.

A dispute over the taxis' spheres of operation began when the Jakarta land transport control agency prohibited taxis based in Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi from operating in Jakarta.

The move came after Jakarta taxi drivers complained that their passengers were being 'stolen' by taxis from the neighboring areas.

There are 18,207 Jakarta-based cabs, belonging to 27 firms, operating in the capital. A further 4,000 taxis from outside the city also operate each day. (yns)