The governor noted at his office that based on the evaluation conducted by PT Transportasi Jakarta (Jakarta), the fleet of double-decker buses needs to be increased.
However, Ahok pointed out that several double-decker buses donated by some private parties were encountering a problem, elaborating that their suspension system did not meet the safety standards issued by the Ministry of Transportation.
"The problem is in the suspension system of the double-decker buses, despite the fact that they were produced by the German company, Mercedes Benz. Therefore, the buses will be coming in late, and we should follow the regulation of the Land Transportation Directorate General," Ahok remarked.
The provincial administration is planning to procure more double-decker buses for the capital city through the e-catalog LKPP.
The e-catalog is a breakthrough that is expected to cut red tape, which often plagues the citys projects.
"The buses are arriving this year, and the standards have been set to meet the regulation, so that they could be operated as soon as possible," Ahok revealed.
Moreover, Ahok also hoped that the citys tour bus service would be supported by a smartphone application, which would help passengers identify the location of the buses.
"Such application would be very useful to the passengers," the governor added.
The city has been operating some double-decker tour buses since early 2014.
The buses, equipped with a tour guide, can be boarded for free by passengers.
Although it was meant for sightseeing purposes for non-Jakartans, several working residents of Jakarta are using the buses as part of their daily commute.
The buses are serving routes between the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and the central commercial area of Pasar Baru by passing through some of Jakartas landmarks such as the Sarinah Departmental Store, National Monuments, National Museum, Presidential Palace, and Istiqlal Mosque.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
