Travelers warned of transportation problem

Travelers warned of transportation problem

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto
predicted yesterday the 25 million people expected to travel in
next month's Idul Fitri holidays would pose a major problem to
the nation's transportation system.

The mass exodus will occur prior to the Moslem holidays taking
place on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, two days after the Chinese New Year.

"However, we are optimistic we will be able to cope with the
problems," Haryanto told a members of the House of
Representatives' Commission V on transportation.

The authorities have predicted Idul Fitri revelers this year
would reach 25 million, with 2.7 million people returning home by
train, 3.1 million by ferry, 16.5 million by road, 1 million by
boat and 1.1 million by air.

Haryanto said of the 38,236 public buses that would serve
passengers in eight provinces, 1,093 had already been reserved.
For Jakarta alone, there would be 9,397 buses provided at 18
terminals.

The state-owned railway company has also provided 986 cars
with 169,500 seats available.

Those who will travel by plane will be accommodated by 174
planes offering 20,789 seats, while the sea transportation fleet
will include 401 ships.

Haryanto said last week an estimated 125,000 vehicles would
pack the northern coasts along Java that spanned from Cikampek,
West Java to Semarang, Central Java. The figure was three times
higher than last year's number of 45,000.

Director General of Land Transportation, Santo Budianto, said
the directorate had noticed 11 areas along the northern route
prone to traffic congestions, accidents and disasters.

A series of floods that have hit Kendal, Central Java since
Saturday have severely jammed traffic flow between Pemalang to
Semarang. Reconstruction is underway, but completion will depend
on weather and the easing of the flood.

The authorities have advised travelers to take alternative
roads. Cepiring-Ungaran-Yogyakarta roads are recommended for
those going south and Cepiring-Semarang for those going north.

The government will bar the Idul Fitri homeward revelers bound
for Central Java and Yogyakarta from using the busy northern
route between Feb. 5 to Feb. 12 and asked them to turn to south
instead.

Despite its long distance and narrow tracks, the winding, up-
and-down southern route will save much time, thanks to the
absence of traffic congestions caused by roadwork or floods.

The traditional southern route travels from Bandung, West Java
to Yogyakarta.

However, Antara reported yesterday the relatively clear
southern route could be jammed by truck convoys, when it comes to
hilly areas such as the track between Banjar, West Java and
Banyumas, Central Java. (12)