Transportation Ministry Issues Circulars to Impose Stricter Restrictions in Agglomeration Areas
Ministry of Transportation Friday (09/07) issued two circulars aimed at imposing stricter restrictions on public and private transportation during the implementation of emergency activity restrictions (emergency PPKM), especially in agglomeration areas.
“Our evaluation on the 5th day of the emergency PPKM implementation shows that mobility reduction in the agglomeration areas, namely in Greater Jakarta, is still below 30 percent compared to the period before the emergency PPKM,” the Ministry’s Spokesperson Adita Irawati said, Friday (09/07).
According to Adita, based on the directives of Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, to reduce the daily number of COVID-19 cases, it is necessary to lower people mobility by at least 30 to 50 percent.
The two circulars are Circular of Minister of Transportation Number 49 of 2021 on Amendments to Circular of Minister of Transportation Number 43 of 2021 on Domestic Travel Guidelines for Land Transport during COVID-19 Pandemic and Circular of Minister of Transportation Number 50 of 2021 on Amendments to Circular of Minister of Transportation Number 42 on Domestic Travel Guidelines for Rail Transport during COVID-19 Pandemic.
The general provisions of the circulars are as follows:
First, land transport (private vehicles and public transportation), river, lake and ferry transport, and commuter line in one agglomeration area can only be accessed by workers in essential sectors and critical sectors in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations.
Second, travelers must bring a document issued by regional governments and / or an assignment letter signed by high ranking officials in private entities or government institutions.
“The circulars will apply on Monday 12 July 2021, to provide an opportunity for operators to make preparation and disseminate information to prospective passengers and the public,” Adita said.
In the meantime, the Ministry’s Director General for Land Transportation Budi Setiyadi underscored that the number of buses and private vehicles in capital Jakarta had dropped compared to that in the period before the emergency PPKM.
The decrease is also reported in other bus stations, as well as in Merak-Bakauheni and Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry transport services.
The lower number of travelers is also reported in the Jakarta area toll road and local train services in the cities of Jakarta, Bandung, Jogjakarta and Solo. (PR of Ministry of Transportation/UN) (RI/EP)
