'This year's exodus better managed'

'This year's exodus better managed'

JAKARTA: Despite scores of traffic accidents, Minister of
Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said yesterday the government
had handled successfully the transportation arrangements for this
year's Idul Fitri holidays.

"This is mainly due to the public's improved discipline and
cooperation with the police," Haryanto said at a post-Idul Fitri
gathering at his office.

All services on land, sea and in the air, functioned properly,
he said.

Three factors contributed to the success: official and public
discipline in preparing the transportation; good coordination and
communication among the related ministerial offices; and better
traffic management.

The minister said that during the peak season of this year's
Idul Fitri holidays, 71,000 homeward-bound revelers and 74,000
returnees were transported on the Java-Sumatra crossing, a 54
percent increase on last year.

"But I understand there are still some weaknesses. We will
soon start preparing the services for next year's Idul Fitri with
the cooperation of the Ministry of Public Works."

Haryanto said that his office had thanked the public,
transportation operators and other related offices for this
year's success.

The Idul Fitri death toll from road accidents this year was 41
by Feb. 11, according to the Ministry of Transportation; other
reports gave different figures. This year's holiday season ends
tomorrow.

There were 187 accidents claiming 114 lives and injuring 360
people during the 10-day 1996 Idul Fitri holiday season. (icn)