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COVID-19: Jakarta satellite cities insist on suspension of commuter line services
Jakarta’s satellite cities have imposed a partial lockdown since April 15, which will end on Tuesday.
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An officer checks the body temperature of commuter line train passengers at Depok Station in Depok, West Java, on April 13. (JP/PJ Leo)
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ive regional heads of Jakarta’s peripheral areas, namely Bogor, Depok and Bekasi in West Java, have insisted on the suspension of commuter line services to curb the spread of COVID-19 after the proposal was rejected by the central government.
Bogor Regent Ade Yasin, Bogor Deputy Mayor Dedi A. Rachim, Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi and representatives of Bekasi Mayor Eka Supria Atmaja held a joint meeting in the Bogor regency office in Cibinong, West Java, on Sunday to evaluate the progress of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) recently imposed in the satellite cities.
“We […] still urge the Transportation Ministry to temporarily stop commuter line trains during the PSBB,” Ade said on Sunday as reported by tempo.co.
She regretted that there had not been any drastic changes in the operations of commuter line services after the PSBB was put in place.
“[We hope] to at least have restrictions, closing down stations and carefully selecting people who use the commuter line,” Ade added.
Read also: Luhut decides against Greater Jakarta's calls for halt to Commuter Line during PSBB
Jakarta’s satellite cities have imposed a partial lockdown since April 15, which will end on Tuesday. Based on their evaluation, the five regional heads agreed to propose an extension for the PSBB. The proposal will be submitted to the Health Ministry through the office of the West Java governor.
The proposal was based on findings that most confirmed patients in the regions were likely infected while traveling on commuter line trains.
“We are certain that one of the reasons behind the growing number of confirmed cases is the operation of the commuter line. [Recent] data showed that most [COVID-19] patients commute by train,” Ade added.
The five officials previously asked the Transportation Ministry and state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), which operates the commuter line, to halt train services to comply with the PSBB and break the transmission chain of COVID-19.
However, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is also acting transportation minister, denied the request, arguing that halting the service would only create new problems as a majority of commuter train passengers were workers, some of whom worked in the health sector.
The health sector is among the sectors deemed "essential" and thus still permitted to operate while the PSBB is in effect. (vny)
