At first glance the recently upgraded Manggarai bus terminal in South Jakarta bears similarities to those found in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok, with its three-story building being wall-to-wall glass panels and its three elevators.

However, the upgrades to the terminal have failed to include the city administration'€™s initial plan to integrate it with Manggarai train station.

The bus terminal has only been integrated with the nearby Transjakarta bus shelter and the adjacent Pasaraya shopping mall.

After the renovation was completed, passengers hoping that they would be able to quickly catch a connecting train at Manggarai Station have been left disappointed as they still have to cross a crowded street to reach the station.

The bus terminal has a pedestrian bridge connecting it to the Transjakarta bus shelter and Pasaraya shopping mall, however, it does not directly link the terminal with the station.

Once commuters reach the end of the pedestrian bridge they still have to walk down the steps and continue along a sidewalk of a crowded street, which they have to cross while navigating through a sea of trucks and other vehicles before reaching the train station.

Mandu Khairani, a college student traveling from Rawamangun in East Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta, had to repeatedly ask various Transportation Agency employees for directions to the train station.

'€œThis is my first time commuting through this bus terminal. I saw on TV that the terminal was supposed to be linked to the train station so I wanted to give it a try. But, in fact, there is no direct passage from the terminal to the station,'€ she told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Rita Lusiana, a regular train commuter who was about to board a Transjakarta bus, said she did not mind the distance between the bus terminal and the train station but felt they should have built a bridge or underpass to make things more convenient.

Indonesia Transportation Society (MTI) Jakarta branch head Tri Tjahjono said he appreciated the city administration'€™s initial plan to connect the terminal and the train station, although it failed to materialize in the end.

'€œThe bridge'€™s stairs are very high. I think most people will still prefer to walk along the sidewalk. I think there was a half-hearted approach to the upgrade,'€ he told the Post over the phone.

He said the Transportation Agency, Transjakarta and state-owned train company PT KAI should have collaborated and discussed the best design to provide a convenient and efficient transit system for passengers.

'€œIf they want to modernize and integrate the terminal and the station, the bridge should connect to a purpose-built station hall on land controlled by PT KAI south of the train station, so people can transfer between busses and trains efficiently through a bridge or underpass facilities,'€ he said.

He said there was a real need to link different modes of transportation through comfortable, safe and convenient access routes.

Manggarai bus terminal accommodates Metro Mini, Kopaja and public minivans serving routes to Pasar Minggu, Blok M and Setiabudi in South Jakarta; Pulo Gadung and Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta; and Senen in Central Jakarta. It also serves as a transit terminal for Transjakarta busses serving the Dukuh Atas and Pulogadung routes.

Manggarai is one of many terminals that was given priority to undergo renovation. Other terminals that have undergone or are in the process of being renovated are in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, Kalideres in West Jakarta, Pulogadung in East Jakarta and Tanjungpriok in North Jakarta.

The agency is also planning to integrate several bus and train stops with new modes of public transportation, such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and the Monorail in the future.

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