[sustran] Fwd: Poor planning and graft pose threat to new Jakarta busway

[Barter, Paul]

Any comments from those closer to the action in Jakarta?
Paul
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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,261373,00.html?
Straits Times
JULY 14, 2004
Poor planning and graft pose threat to new Jakarta busway 
Lack of supporting facilities makes it unattractive to car owners while
management's integrity is in doubt 

By Devi Asmarani 

JAKARTA - In operation for just six months, Jakarta's public bus system
has already proven to be the most reliable and comfortable means of
getting around the congested capital.

But its sustainability is in question: most commuters are still
unwilling to leave their cars at home and the busway's management is
allegedly fraught with graft.

Observers are worried that - like other ambitious, multi-million-dollar
government projects in the capital - the system will eventually wither
from mismanagement and a lack of funds.

The busway system is one of several controversial policies that Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso has implemented. Others include the eviction of
illegal squatters from slums.

Analysts say these policies - seen as insensitive to public opinion -
have hurt President Megawati Sukarnoputri's popularity in Jakarta. Her
PDI-P party was behind the Governor's re-election two years ago.

The 250-billion-rupiah (S$48.5-million) Trans-Jakarta Busway system is
the first phase of a seven-year project to build a mass transportation
system that includes a monorail and subway.

Fifty-six specially built buses, each with a capacity of 85 passengers,
ply the 12.9km route that runs from the bus terminal in the popular Blok
M shopping complex to the bustling Chinatown area.

The buses travel along dedicated bus lanes, which reduces travel times.
Around 51,000 people use them daily.

The system was especially helpful during the campaigning leading up to
April's legislative election, when up to 65,000 people a day used it to
avoid the massive jams caused by street parades.

However, a study by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency this
year showed that only 14 per cent of car owners have switched to using
the busway.

State-owned Trans-Jakarta has recorded 18 billion rupiah in revenue
since the busway's launch, an amount it says is still dwarfed by monthly
operating costs exceeding 3 billion rupiah.

'With the current bus fare of 2,500 rupiah per trip, we are still
heavily subsidised by the city budget,' said company spokesman Ajar
Aedi.

'But the purpose is to provide a service that is affordable for
everyone, so we can't stress too much on the business side for now.'

The Jakarta city administration is planning two more routes for the
busway system.

But public policy analyst Agus Pambagio said the system was poorly
managed and prone to corruption.

The cost of bus procurement and bus shelter construction may have been
falsely marked up, he said, and the ticketing system is also not
transparent enough, making it prone to irregularities.

Most car owners are also reluctant to take the bus because of a lack of
good supporting facilities, said Mr Agus. Feeder buses serving routes
not covered by the Trans-Jakarta buses are in a decrepit state.

The city's pavements are also in need of repair and there are no parking
facilities for car owners who want to take the bus.

'To encourage people to take the bus, the government must do more than
just buy buses,' said Mr Agus.

'There must be supporting facilities as well as integrated traffic and
car ownership policies. Right now, there is no long-term initiative
other than to finish the projects.'


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Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. 


Forwarded for the purpose of education and research
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