Transportation Ministry Boosts Monitoring on Toll Roads, Ferry Ports Ahead Christmas, NY
Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi launches coordination center of transportation for 2019 Christmas and New Year celebrations, at the Ministry’s Headquarter, Jakarta, Thursday (19/12). (Photo by: Ministry of Transportation PR)
Ahead of this year’s Christmas and New Year holidays, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi has called for monitoring of several locations considered prone to accidents and overcrowding.
“Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road requires constant monitoring since it is 15 meters above the ground. Monitoring must also be conducted to Cikopo-Palimanan Toll Road that is prone to accidents and Merak-Bakauheni ferry line which will get overcrowded as Trans Sumatra Toll Road is fully operational. Sea transportation in eastern Indonesia – which is prone to overcrowding – must also be monitored,” the Minister said in the launching of coordination center of transportation for 2019 Christmas and New Year celebrations, at the Ministry’s Headquarter, Jakarta, Thursday (19/12).
Regarding overcrowding projection of Merak-Bakauheni port, the Minister said he had instructed state-owned ferry operator PT ASDP to improve its information technology system, as well as to open more gates and to provide more parking lots.
The Minister went on to say that his Ministry has allocated 40 ships to anticipate the surge in the number of passengers in eastern Indonesia.
“To provide excellent service for the people and ensure their safety, we must prevent the ships from experiencing overcapacity,” he added.
Budi went on to say that the Ministry also pays a special attention to ferry line in Lake Toba following ferry accident last year, adding that although monitoring is the authority of local government, the Ministry will monitor the line to ensure that the passengers comply with safety rules.
Ministry of Transportation has previously announced it is coordinating with the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and Transportation Department (Dishub) in regions to conduct random check on tourism buses and assess their feasibilities.
Punishments will be imposed to unfeasible buses or to bus operators that do not take or pass the ramp check.
“We have asked bus operators to do self-ramp check to make sure that the machine, brakes, lights and other parts function properly. We have also instructed the public to take bus that placed ‘ramp check compliance’ sticker at the windscreen of the bus for the sake of safety aspect,” Budi said.
The Minister also warned the public to take public bus or train when travelling to other region rather than by riding motorcycle because accidents involving motorcycle in Indonesia reaches 70 percent of the total accidents.
As an effort to reduce the number of motorcyclists, the Government, Budi added, has opened Free Mudik (exodus) Program that provides 55 buses for 2,475 passengers to several destinations, among others, East Java, Central Java, and Bali. In addition, the public can still take train since ticket selling to date only reaches 57 percent, he added.
In a bid to maintain security and safety during exodus before this year’s Christmas and New Year 2020, the Minister said his Ministry would deploy more security personnel on transportation facilities such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, and train stations. (Ministry of Transportation PR/ES)
Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by : M. Ersan Pamungkas
