Getting ready for 2.5m travelers

Triwik Kurniasari and Multa Fidrus ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta/Banten   |  Thu, 09/25/2008 11:26 AM  |  City

With Idul Fitri just a week away, the city administration is getting ready to manage and monitor this year’s exodus and return traffic flow.

Deputy Governor Prijanto said Wednesday about 2.5 million passengers would be departing from Jakarta to other cities across the country.

He said the number would increase by 12 percent more than last year’s exodus figures.

“The transportation agency has teamed up with the health agency to routinely administer urine tests for bus drivers to assure they are free from alcohol. It’s for passengers’ safety and comfort,” Prijanto said.

He called on the fire agency to prepare its officers and facilities to prevent any blaze within 24 hours..

Prijanto spoke after seeing off 1,600 personnel from various agencies including Health, Public Order, Residential and Civil Registry and Transportation in a roll call held at the National Monument (Monas) park.

Transportation agency head M. Tauchid Tjakra Amidjaja said his office had provided additional bus embarkation points in five municipalities across the capital.

“Buses will stop in Kemayoran (Central Jakarta), Tanjung Priok and Muara Angke (North Jakarta), Grogol (West Jakarta) and Pinang Ranti (East Jakarta),” Tauchid said.

“We have also deployed officers to check vehicle conditions in every bus station,” he said.
Moreover, the Transportation Ministry has added economy-class cars to the Matarmaja train from Senen in Jakarta to Malang in East Java, to accomodate more passengers during exodus.

Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api had also added on new cars to some outbound economy-class trains, including Dangtuanku (West Java), Banten Express (Banten) and Banyu Biru Express (Central Java).

To prepare for the influx after the holidays, the city has delegated the residential and civil registry agency to erect banners and to distribute thousands of fliers in 33 areas across the city, in an effort to prevent more unskilled newcomers from migrating to the capital.

Prijanto discouraged Jakartans from bringing relatives or friends back with them to the capital.
The administration estimated another 200,000 people would come to the capital in this year’s returning tide.

In Banten, Adjis Ariwibowo, manager of operations for the Tangerang-Merak toll road company PT Marga Mandala Sakti (MMS), said the company had made a concerted effort to give the best service unhampered traffic flow, security and comfort to users of that major artery.

“Although repairs are still underway, our maintenance team will work around the clock in anticipation of emergency repairs in case of sudden damage to sections of the turnpike,” he said.

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