Transport body gears up for holiday exodus

Transport body gears up for holiday exodus

JAKARTA (JP): The City Land Transportation Agency has arranged
for 7,801 buses to accommodate the estimated 1.26 million
travelers in the holiday seasons of Christmas, New Year and
Ramadhan fasting month.

Head of the agency, J.P. Sepang, said in a statement here
yesterday that the buses would be carrying passengers to cities
and towns in Java and Sumatra.

The buses would be pooled at the city's four main bus
terminals, namely the Pulo Gadung and Kampung Rambutan terminals
in East Jakarta, Kalideres terminal in West Jakarta and Lebak
Bulus terminal in South Jakarta.

Other terminals would also be used to support the exodus, such
as Damri Station in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Rawamangun
terminal in East Jakarta and Tanjung Priok terminal in North
Jakarta.

"If necessary, we'll set up other supporting terminals in
strategic places in the city," Sepang said.

The annual exodus of city people, mostly housemaids and other
casual workers, to their hometowns for their holidays would
increase about 5 percent this year because the festive seasons
were back to back, he said.

The Ramadhan fasting month is expected to start at the end of
this month.

In an effort to supervise ticket distribution, passenger flow
and the roadworthiness of the buses, the agency has opened public
hot line (telephone number: 021 3457471).

"We will not allow any unroadworthy bus to transport
passengers for the safety of the people," Sepang said.

The hot line also provides information about routes and ticket
sale outlets.

"We will coordinate this program with other related parties
such as City Police, City's Public Order Office and Jasa Raharja,
a state-owned transportation insurance company," Sepang said.
(edt)