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)