Seizure of city buses defended

Seizure of city buses defended

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the City Land Transportation and
Traffic Control Office (DLLAJ), J.P. Sepang, explained that the
impoundment of city buses is solely a disciplinary action and is
not meant to inflict financial losses on the bus companies.

Sepang told reporters here yesterday that at least 1,547 buses
were impounded last month for various traffic infractions.

Many were impounded because they were not road worthy, they
violated their routes or failed to obey the newly implemented
policy requiring public transit vehicles to keep their doors
closed while in motion.

The owners of the bus companies recently lodged a strong
complaint through the City Transport Owners' Organization
(Organda DKI Jaya), claiming the impoundment inflicts profit
losses.

As quoted by Antara, Sepang tried to calm criticism by saying
"the impounded buses are only being reprimanded, none of them
have had their operating permits revoked."

Nevertheless, he indirectly admitted the companies had
experienced financial losses since their buses had not been
allowed to operate. Organda DKI Jaya has also recently objected
to a Rp 10,000 (US$4.63) daily parking fee for each bus collected
by the DLLAJ.

Commenting on efforts to increase discipline among drivers of
public transportation, Sepang said DLLAJ, in cooperation with
owners of privately owned transportation companies, will continue
a policy requiring bus companies to enroll their drivers in
education and training classes.

These efforts are now beginning the second group, with each
group having some 100 drivers. The municipal authority is
planning to finance the first five groups, after which the
private sector is expected to continue the financial
responsibility of educating its drivers.

Sepang lauded the success of the program by saying that up to
now, none of the program graduates have been fined or ticketed
for traffic infractions or other violations.

He further reiterated the government's plan to reorganize and
replace the three-wheel motorized Bemo and the 12-seat Omprengan
public transit vehicles.

Located mainly in the city's suburbs, the Omprengan will
gradually be phased out and replaced by a new type of suburban
transportation.

Authorities also intend to reorganize other informal forms of
transportation, especially those operating at night.

Sepang acknowledged that the existence of these informal means
of transport were caused by the lack of conventional buses for
people coming home from work late in the evening.

He thus welcomed any initiative from private companies
interested in setting up evening transportation routes. (mds)