Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Bus drivers at Kampung Rabutan Terminal, East Jakarta, underwent a urine test on Monday to determine whether they were healthy and qualified for driving safely.

"The urine test is essential for drivers to obtain a recommendation on whether they are fit for driving and ensure safety of passengers travelling to home town for the post-fasting month holiday, or Lebaran festivities," said Dr Angga H Gumelar at the urine test command post of the terminal on Monday.

The health command post will remain open for seven days before the D-Day and seven days after the D-Day or from July 21 to August 5, 2014.

"We have received about 20 bus drivers who have had their urine tested," Anggra said.

On Sunday, the Kampung Rambutan intercity bus terminal in East Jakarta began witnessing an increase in the number of holidaymakers returning to their hometowns for the 2014 Lebaran festivity, stated terminal chief Dwi Basuki.

"The number of home-bound travelers started to trickle into the Kampung Rambutan bus terminal on Sunday and continued to increase on Monday," Basuki pointed out.

He noted that the Lebaran holiday this year was long, so the number of passengers at this terminal will probably peak on Thursday or four days before the Lebaran festivity.

"This is a lengthy holiday, so the number of travelers is forecast to increase by about 15 percent as compared to last year when 585 buses with a total of 26,546 passengers were dispatched from Kampung Rambutan terminal," Basuki added.

According to Basuki, 432 buses with 3,937 passengers left the Kampung Rambutan bus terminal on Sunday for different destinations, and 603 other buses carrying 9,786 passengers arrived on the same day.

Around 27.9 million people in Indonesia are expected to travel home to villages to celebrate the Islamic post-fasting celebration of Idul Fitri, up seven percent from last year, police said.

"The condition will certainly increase vulnerabilities in terms of traffic," National Police Chief General Sutarman said in a written statement read out by the governor of Riau province in Sumatra, Annas Maamun, at a roll call of forces assigned to ensure security during the big holiday event.

The Idul Fitri holidays will fall on July 28-29, 2014, next week.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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