Minister Orders KAI to Provide COVID-19 Random Tests at Commuter Line Stations

President Jokowi inspects mass COVIID-19 vaccination at Bogor Railway Station, Thursday, (17/06). Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi has ordered state railway company PT KAI to provide COVID-19 random tests for passengers of Greater Jakarta commuter line (KRL Jabodetabek).

“I have received a report on the increase of commuter line passengers with the total number of 400,000 to 500,000 passengers per day. Even though the daily passengers can be above one million before the pandemic, we must pay attention to it considering that there is currently a surge in COVID-19 cases. To that end, we order PT KAI to provide COVID-19 random tests at the main stations, including Gambir station, Senen station, Manggarai station, and other main stations across the cities of Bekasi, Bogor, and Tangerang,” the Minister said, Saturday (19/06).

According to Budi, the Ministry’s Directorate General for Land Transport will provide buses at a number of stations as an alternative transportation mode to prevent a build-up of passengers on commuter line trains.

In response to that, President Director of PT. KAI Didiek Hartantyo underscored that his side was ready to carry out random tests at commuter line main stations.

According to him, PT KAI has implemented strict health protocols for the passengers by requiring them to wear a face masks and to wash hands, marking seats and standing places so that passengers could keep their distance, and limiting passenger capacity to only 74 passengers in each carriage. (PR of Ministry of Transportation/UN) (RI/EP)