A Bogor-bound commuter line stops at Manggarai Station during rush hour on Wednesday (April 15, 2020). (ANTARA)
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has urged ad interim Transportation Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to suspend commuter lines in and around Jakarta while the capital implements large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) to control coronavirus spread.
"Two days ago, I proposed the suspension of commuter lines to the Transportation Minister while the PSBB is in place," Anies said at a meeting with the House of Representatives' COVID-19 control supervisory team in Jakarta on Thursday.
Anies said the Transportation Ministry is deliberating on the proposal and will likely approve it after social assistance has been distributed among coronavirus affected-people.
"They are still discussing it. According to the reply I received, the operation of commuter lines will be restricted after social assistance has been distributed," he revealed.
He said the city administration has begun reducing the number of operating hours and passengers for public transport vehicles.
"The number of operating hours has been reduced and the number of passengers is also being controlled at the entrance of bus stops and stations. They (passengers) are being allowed to get onto a bus or train if there is sufficient space," he explained.
The number of passengers using TransJakarta, managed by the Jakarta administration, has dropped significantly to 91 thousand on Wednesday (April 15) from 103 thousand on April 1, he continued.
Under normal conditions, TransJakarta carries 550 thousand to one million passengers per day. (ANTARA)