PT Transportasi Jakarta (Transjakarta) plans to operate free double-decker buses, especially on Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) lanes. Thus, private vehicle users would have option to use public transport that is safe, convenience, and cheap.

We are asked to operate free buses on ERP lanes, most likely double-decker buses

“We are asked to operate free buses on ERP lanes, most likely double-decker buses. There will be short routes passed. The procurement of those buses is accelerated so they could be operated before ERP implementation,” stated PT Transjakarta President Director, Antonius Kosasih, at City Hall, Wednesday (8/13).

There are two routes prepared, namely Kuningan – Jalan Casablanca – Jalan Gatot Subroto – Kuningan, and Jalan Sudirman – Jalan Gatot Subroto – TVRI – Senayan City – Jalan Sudirman.

According to Kosasih, his party is currently waiting for budget approval from Jakarta Parliament (DPRD) on bus procurement. The purchase itself will be conducted through Government Procurement Regulatory Body (LKPP).

“The point is that the buses to be purchased are already registered in LKPP. In LKPP, the price is per unit,” he told.

Kosasih asserted that the presence of double-decker buses is not a rival to other public transports like Kopaja and Metromini. This is because the routes prepared are only short ones. Besides, the speed of double-decker bus is not as fast as other public transports.

“This is not a rival, especially to TransJakarta bus. Moreover, both buses are subsidized by the government and the purpose is to serve the residents. The routes (of the double-decker buses) are probably from mall to mall,” he uttered.

According to Kosasih, there are three public transportation principles, namely good, fast, and cheap. But in reality, every public transport can only provide two of them.

“So, if it’s good and fast, it doesn’t cheap. If it’s good and cheap, it doesn’t fast. If it’s fast and cheap, it certainly doesn’t good,” he said.