Special permits needed for extra Idul Fitri buses

JAKARTA (JP): Operators of extra Idul Fitri buses need special permits, a City Land Transportation Control Agency official said yesterday.

The agency's traffic and transportation control subdivision head Oriyanto Supardal said this included those companies used to transport homecoming employees.

He said permits were necessary because the extra buses would not ply their regular routes during Idul Fitri.

"Each bus needs a special permit for a two-way trip. The permit will be effective seven days before and 10 days after the Idul Fitri holiday," Oriyanto said.

The permit could be acquired at the city's main bus terminals, the Agency's mayoralty branch and the Agency's headquarters, he said.

The permit would be used to record the number of travelers and the number of buses leaving the city, he said.

Oriyanto said bus crews that violated regulations would not be punished directly.

"If we find bus crews increasing bus fares beyond what was set by the government, we will take the route permits and will give the driver a temporary one. The punishment will be imposed when the bus owner renews the route permit," Oriyanto said.

He did not say how the violators would be punished. "It is the Director General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation which has the authority to decide the punishment."

It was better to punish offenders later so as not to create problems during the busy holiday, he said

"This can avoid traffic congestion. Furthermore, if direct punishment is given the number of buses operational will drop gradually. In the end the travelers will be affected," he said.

"Operational permits for operators who violate regulations could be temporarily revoked depending on the violation," Oriyanto said.

The ministry could revoke permits for three to four months, he said.

Agency officials would check the buses before they left "just to make sure the buses are safe to transport people".

The city will operate 9,397 buses for Idul Fitri, 2,095 of which are city public buses, including Kopaja and Metromini buses.

The buses will be pooled at permanent bus terminals including Pulo Gadung and Kampung Rambutan in East Jakarta, Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta and Kalideres in West Jakarta.

There will be an extra 15 bus terminals in five mayoralties, including terminals at Grogol and Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, Pinang Ranti, East Jakarta, Tanjung Priok and Muara Angke, North Jakarta, and on Jl. Kapten P. Tendean and Jl. Abdul Rochim, South Jakarta.

City Land Transportation Control Agency head J.P. Sepang has estimated 1.6 million people would leave Jakarta for their hometown by bus for Idil Fitri. The state railway company, Perumka, said it would provide 169,000 seats a day.

The City Population Office estimates 3.5 million people leave Jakarta for their hometowns each Idul Fitri and return with 300,000 relatives and friends looking for jobs. (ste)