'State-owned PPD, Damri violate regulations'

JAKARTA (JP): Two state-owned transportation companies, PPD and Damri, were among the six bus companies which violated transport regulations during the Idul Fitri exodus, an official said yesterday.

City Land Transportation Control Agency Head J.P. Sepang, said yesterday the other four companies were Mawar Selatan, Sinar Jaya, Timbul Jaya and Giri Indah Andalan.

Giri Indah Andalan was one of several companies suspended for a week last year for failing to meet an agreement made with the agency to provide additional buses.

Sepang said the other three companies had illegally raised fares above the government-set 25 percent fare hikes for the Idul Fitri holidays, effective to Feb. 19.

Damri cheated prospective passengers by selling tickets for two buses which were not available, said Sepang.

The head of the Rawamangun bus terminal in East Jakarta had to give money back to the passengers, he said.

The PPD bus crew violated the rules by taking passengers outside the bus pool.

Sepang said punishments would be decided by the Ministry of Transportation, his office was only responsible for recording violations.

Sepang said Mawar Selatan was guilty of selling tickets at air-conditioned bus prices, but providing non-air-conditioned buses.

"We took passengers to another terminal and helped them get other buses (with suitable fares)," Sepang said.

The city operated 9,397 buses for Idul Fitri, 2,095 were city public buses.

Conditions in terminals and train stations returned to normal as soon as crowds left for their hometowns.

The land transportation agency recorded 1,015,570 Jakartans left for their hometowns from the four main terminals and 15 extra terminals between Feb. 2 and Monday. Idul Fitri was on Sunday and Monday.

On Wednesday 151,944 left on buses, and Thursday 138,793.

Spokesman for state-owned railway company Perumka, Bambang Walujodjati, said 440,487 people left on trains from Feb. 2 to Sunday.

"The peak was Thursday and Friday," Bambang told The Jakarta Post yesterday. He said 71,308 people left on trains on Thursday and 66,532 on Friday.

The land transportation control agency had estimated 1.6 million people would leave for their hometowns by bus for Idul Fitri.

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)