"During the Asian Games, we provide free Transjakarta bus services for athletes and officials who want to travel for sightseeing and shopping in the city of Jakarta," President Director of PT Transjakarta, Budi Kaliwono said in Jakarta on Monday (Aug 13).
The free service is offered based on the directions of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to provide free services to the public in order to encourage them to use public transportation.
"Of course, with free services, the public will be encouraged to use Transjakarta buses to watch matches during the 2018 Asian Games," Public Relations Officer of PT Transjakarta, Wibowo, stated.
Previously, Baswedan noted that people who want to watch the 2018 Asian Games could enjoy free Transjakarta bus services on certain days from Aug 17 to Sept 2, 2018.
Wibowo remarked that it would deploy 1,750 buses for free bus services for several days during the 2018 Asian Games. "We will add a bus fleet, namely deploying 1,750 buses, during the free bus service to the public," he explained in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Wibowo added that the free bus services can be enjoyed from Aug 17 to 19; from Aug 22 to 25 and 26; and on Sept 1 and 2.
The operating hours of the Transjakarta corridor will last for 24 hours on certain days.
In addition, the Jakarta Government, through Transjakarta, will also provide free bus facilities for five thousand journalists and 13 thousand volunteers. Volunteers can use the facility from Aug 1 to Sept 2.
More importantly, according to PT Transjakarta President Director Budi Kaliwono, the public and the athletes and officials of the Asian Games can use the service to tour the city and go shopping.
The services are divided into three categories, namely shopping, shopping and art, and cultural attractions. The shopping tour is divided into two routes. The first is from the Wisma Grand Indonesia-Plaza Indonesia-Plaza Indonesia or Senayan City-Grand Indonesia-Monas Wisma Athletes (guesthouse athlete).
Five buses are provided for this route, with operational time from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time. "The second shopping tour route is the Wisma Athletes-Grand Indonesia-Monas-Wisma Athletes. There are three buses that we provide with the same operational time, starting from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. local time," Kaliwono remarked.
For historical tourism, the route is from the Old Athlete`s Residence (Historical Museum, the Puppet Museum, and the Ceramic Museum). There are five buses provided, with operational hours starting from 08.00 a.m. to 04.00 p.m. local time.
He further remarked that the tours for art and cultural attractions are divided into three routes. First is from Wisma Athlete`s Atlet-Monas. Five buses are provided, with operational time from 04:00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. local time.
The second route is from the Athletes Guesthouse of Athletes` Puppet Performance Houses. For the puppet show, we only provide one bus on Saturday (Aug 25) because there is only one show," he explained.
The third route, he revealed, is from the Wisma Betawi-Wisma Athlete Cultural Center. But his side is still making further plans for the route.
Thus, foreign tourists visiting Jakarta during the international sporting event of the Asian Games will also be directed to use Transjakarta bus services, according to Wibowo.
"We will deploy some 125 volunteers at all Transjakara bus stops to help foreign tourists keen on using the Transjakarta bus services," Wibowo remarked here on Tuesday.
He explained that the volunteers, equipped with English language skills, will be able to serve the foreign tourists who use Transjakarta as a mode of transportation. The volunteers who come from external PT Transjakarta are trained to serve the foreign tourists at certain Transjakarta bus stops.
"We will deploy at least two volunteers at each Transjakarta bus stop during the Asian Games, but the mechanism is being reviewed," Wibowo remarked. He expressed optimism that free Transjakarta bus services would be effective and successful in reducing congestion, especially during the Asian Games.
"Yes, of course, with the implementation of the odd-even policy, Transjakarta bus passengers will increase," he added. Free Transjakarta bus services can be enjoyed round the clock by the public on specific dates.
In the meantime, the 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASCOG) has appreciated the free services offered by the Transjakarta buses for journalists who cover the Asia`s largest sporting event.
The INASGOC Chairman, Erick Thohir, expressed the appreciation at the symbolic handover of cards marking the free-of-charge services of the Transjakarta buses to five thousand accredited media during the 2018 Asian Games.
"Free bus services constitute a tremendous support from the Jakarta Provincial Government, especially PT Transjakarta. We are very grateful for the (services)," Thohir stated in a press conference at the City Hall in Central Jakarta on Monday (Aug 13).
With such bus services, journalists who have registered to cover the Asian Games will later get special cards that are integrated with the Transjakarta buses.
Edited by Bustanudin
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
