Lion Air to operate in Australia, Thailand

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian airline Lion Air will soon expand its business by also operating in Australia and Thailand in cooperation with local companies, a spokesman said.

"A cooperation agreement with an Australian company in which 49 percent of the shares are owned by Lion and 51 percent by the Australian side is now in the making. Lion will base six of its aircraft in Australia," Lion Air President Director Rusdi Kirana said on Tuesday.

He said the joint venture in Australia would bear the name of Lion Air Australia and that in Thailand Lion Air Thailand. In Thailand, Lion would base four of its aircrafts.

The overseas expansion was not only motivated by commercial considerations but also a desire to prove that Indonesian airlines are also capable of operating outside the country, Rusdi said.

Australia and Thailand were chosen because procedures to obtain permits to set up an airline company in these countries were relatively easier for foreign investors.

Rusdi said the joint airline companies in Australia and Thailand would hopefully already be formed before 2014 by which time Lion Air would have acquired the 122 new Boeing 7737-900 ER liners it was ordering now.

Garuda to open Nagoya-Bali route

Tokyo (ANTARA News) - National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia in Japan will carry through its plan to open a Nagoya - Bali route despite the fact that the air transportation business has been severely affected by the soaring oil price, a spokesman said.

"The air transportation business has been greatly affected by the soaring oil price but our management is predicting that the route will be profitable," Garuda district manager for Japan, China and the United States Arif Wibowo said on Wednesday.

He said Garuda was enjoying the support of Centrair, the airport authority in Chubu, the international airport for the central part of Japan.

"We also have the support of the Nagoya Chamber of Commerce and Industry," he added.

He further said Garuda in Tokyo had conducted a study and approached related parties in Nagoya in relation with the planned opening of the new route.

The route was expected to be opened in June this year to support Garuda`s business expansion in Japan with a flight frequency of three times a week, he added.

Garuda is now serving a Tokyo-Bali-Jakarta route once per day and an Osaka-Bali-Jakarta route five times a week.

On the cost of a flight, he said, "The ticket will be around US$1,000 per person or some Y110,000."

The ticket was previously sold at US$700 - US$800 per person.

Waste law 'will reduce floods'

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government expects a bill threatening fines and jail time for those who dispose of garbage in rivers can help prevent recurring flood problems.

State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar said the absence of regulations on garbage disposal was behind current flood disasters in several regions.

He said garbage-clogged rivers triggered flooding, especially in urban areas.

"It is common for people to dump garbage into river," he said at a press conference on Friday.

"That's why, once we have the waste management law, I promise to implement it seriously. There won't be any compromise as regards violators."

A first-ever bill on garbage is expected to be passed this year.

Rachmat said he would "urge the House of Representatives to pass it into law within two months" and that implementation would follow as soon as possible thereafter.

The draft bill submitted by the government deals with reduction and disposal of garbage and covers the daily activities of the general public. It prohibits dumping and burning garbage in open areas.

The law would require households to separate organic and non-organic garbage.

Garbage in the country's urban areas, most of which comes from households, has long been a sensitive issue.

The sanctions available for improper garbage disposal will be further elaborated within regional ordinances.

As a basic outline, the law provides that bringing waste into Indonesian territory is punishable with a fine of up to Rp 2 billion (US$212,000) or five years in prison.

Fines of Rp 1.5 billion or a three-year sentence would apply to those operating recycling and other waste businesses without permits from the ministry.

The ministry reported that garbage disposed into the country's 36 largest rivers contributes to their severe pollution.

The recent floods and landslides that struck Central and East Java killed over 100 people while the overflowing of Java's longest river, the Bengawan Solo, displaced tens of thousands.

The ministry said Java would remain prone to landslides during rainy seasons.

According to a ministry count, there are some 600 flood and landslide high risk areas in East Java, 531 such areas in Central Java and 430 in West Java.

It is estimated that Indonesia produces some 21,000 tons of household waste daily.

The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) suggested the bill also include provisions on recycling in connection with the production of consumer goods to help reduce household garbage.

Meanwhile, lawmakers suggested the government promote the use of high-tech waste treatment plants to deal with rising waste.

The bill currently provides that regions producing 1,000 tons or more of daily waste have waste treatment plants.

Air force chopper crashes in Riau

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - An Indonesian Air Force helicopter crashed in the Indonesian province of Riau on Monday, an eyewitness said.

The helicopter went down two kilometers from the eastern trans Sumatra highway linking Pekanbaru to Pangkalan Kerinci, the eyewitness, Hamid, said.

"All the victims are still at the crash site. We saw some of them who suffered broken bones," he told Antara.

He said he did not know exactly the number of people injured in the accident.

Meanwhile, the commander of the Pekanbaru Air Force Base, Col Ghandara Olivienca, could not be reached for comment on the helicopter crash.

Floods cause Rp32.7 billion in infrastructure damage in Sukoharjo

Sukoharjo, Central Java (ANTARA News) - Floods in Sukoharjo District, Central Java, have caused infrastructure damage totaling Rp32.7 billion, according to a local official.

The inundations had damaged a number of infrastructure facilities such as roads, bridges, irrigation works, dams and houses, the head of Sukoharjo Public Works Service, Haryanto, said here on Monday.

The floods, triggered by the overflowing of Bengawan Solo River, had inundated a total of 1,887 houses, especially in Grogol, Mojolaban, Polokarto and Sukoharjo town, he said. Four bridges in Bendosari and Polokarto sub districts were also damaged by the deluges.

Garuda flies 21,650 passengers from Beijing to Jakarta in 2007

Beijing (ANTARA News) - National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia airlines flew 21,650 passengers from Beijing to Jakarta in 2007 with a seat occupancy rate of 81.8 percent, Garuda`s General Manager for Beiing, Pikri Ilham K said here on Sunday.

"Amid tight competition with foreign airlines which also serve the Beijing-Jakarta route, the number of Garuda`s passengers from Beijing continued to increase in 2007," Pikri said.

He said that Garuda used B737 New Generation (NG) airplanes in flying passengers from Beijing to Jakarta with a capacity of 26,499 seats.

Pikri said that the interest of Indonesian and Chinese citizens to use Garuda flights to Jakarta was high so that sometimes Garuda was overwhelmed in giving its service, particularly during holidays.

He said that Garuda conducted 169 flights from Beijing to Jakarta during 2007, or three flights a week.

Besides serving the Beijing-Jakarta route, Garuda also plied the Shanghai-Jakarta and Guanzhou-Jakarta routes with four flights a week respectively.

Garuda served the Shanghai-Jakarta routes with 204 flights, 58,447 seats and 38,823 passengers in 2007. It also served the Guanghou-Jakarta route with 212 flights, 36,701 seats and 28,823 passengers.

Pikri hoped Garuda would fly more passengers this year.

New Singapore terminal to bolster air hub status: analysts

Singapore (ANTARA News) - Singapore will Wednesday open an ultra-modern new 1.2-billion-dollar airport terminal that industry analysts say will reinforce the city-state's position as a regional aviation hub.

Terminal 3, which boasts a five-storey vertical garden with waterfalls, will receive its first passengers just months after a new terminal opened in Hong Kong and more than a year after Bangkok's new airport began operating.

Aviation industry competition is intensifying in a region where airline passenger growth is projected to increase faster than the global average.

Analysts say the new terminal will boost the appeal of Singapore's Changi Airport -- particularly compared with its key challenger in Bangkok, which has been plagued with problems since opening in 2006.

"It will push Singapore further ahead of its rivals," said Shukor Yusof, of Standard and Poor's Equity Research.

Built at a cost of 1.75 billion Singapore dollars (1.22 billion US), Terminal 3 offers 380,000 square metres (4.1 million square feet) of space in a seven-storey building.

It can handle 22 million passengers a year, bringing Changi's total capacity to about 70 million, airport operator the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore told AFP.

Terminal 3 will add 28 aerobridge gates to Changi, with up to eight designed to handle the world's biggest passenger plane, the superjumbo Airbus A380.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) in October became the world's first airline to fly the double-decker A380 and will be the first to operate from Terminal 3.

Cigarette producing town still underwater

Suherdjoko and Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Semarang, Gresik

Thousands of workers in the cigarette producing town of Kudus were still away from work on Friday due to massive flooding in the area.

Some 90,000 workers are employed at various cigarette companies here, mostly at the largest company, PT Djarum Kudus. Some 60 percent of them were told to stay home, public relations officer Yudo Prihandono said.

Around 18,000 residents have evacuated to higher ground since the embankment of the Wulan River spilled over and flooded homes. As of Friday, construction workers and residents were still trying to repair the embankment.

The local bus terminal was flooded as well.

Business people operating in the flooded areas of Central and East Java reported a drop in sales and production of up to 50 percent because of disrupted distribution after parts of the 600-kilometer-long Bengawan Solo River flooded over two weeks ago.

"We're still producing but we can't send anything while roads are underwater," said Haryanto Halim, who owns the instant beverage Marimas. "Besides, people are just buying basic needs."

Production costs were also going up, he said Friday in Semarang, where floods are expected each rainy season.

The Central Java capital houses the industrial areas of Kaligawe and Bugangan, employing some 5,000 workers.

"On the surface the Kaligawe area is not flooded because management has been raising their buildings," said Didik Sukmono, head of the province association of industrial sites.

"But the surrounding roads are still inundated," he said. "The Semarang administration seems to be handling floods only partially."

He said production was down by 50 percent since the floods began last month.

Authorities in several inundated areas on Friday were still repairing railways while residents still lacked electricity.

In Bojonegoro, the East Java town hardest hit by the overflowing of the Bengawan Solo, the Jakarta-Surabaya train route has yet to resume operation because of repair work on a total of 300 meters of railway in four separate locations.

Antara news agency quoted chief technician Aminullah as saying the management of the state-run railway company had ordered repair work to be completed by Saturday.

Also in Bojonegoro, the local manager of the state-run electricity company Isbiyanto said almost 30,000 homes in the town and in neighboring Tuban and Lamongan still had their supply cut off.

"We deliberately turned off supply," he said, adding that 112 relay stations were still underwater.

Floods in the furthest areas passed by the Bengawan Solo, Lamongan and Gresik, subsided Friday but authorities said they still faced difficulty in distributing aid to displaced residents.

The chief information officer of Gresik, Mizwar Syukur, said officials were still urging residents to be on the alert although water levels in the shrimp and fish ponds had decreased by up to 15 centimeters.

"We're also expecting many more displaced residents because people are still resisting evacuation and watching over their assets at home," he said.

More road signs needed for alternative route to airport

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

On Dec. 27 last year, Tangerang municipality officially launched a new-and-improved Jl. Husein Sastranegara as an alternative route to the airport from Serpong and Jakarta -- but motorists have said the new road needs more signage.

The revamp has seen the once-narrow road become a duel carriage highway.

Motorists traveling from the capital can now take the Jakarta-Merak tollroad and enter the inner-city roads of Tangerang municipality.

Those coming from Serpong can reach Jl. MH Thamrin in Tangerang, after Jl. Serpong Raya.

But feedback from motorists is that step-by-step signs are crucial for those unfamiliar with the area.

"I didn't know about the alternative route to the airport because I did not see any road signs along the way," Tangerang resident Budi Kuncahyo said Friday.

Tangerang municipal Transportation Agency head Erlan Ruasnarlan said they had placed a number of traffic signs along alternative roads heading to airport.

But he said the number of signs installed along the alternative routes was inadequate and promised to add some, although he did not provide a definite timeframe.

Airport traffic police chief Adj. Comr. Sutimin said a lack of information about the newly revamped Jl. Pembangunan-Jl. Husen Sastranegara had caused bottlenecks at one intersection in Rawa Bokor.

He said each day there were up to 5,000 vehicles traveling between Rawa Bokor in West Jakarta to the airport.

"The new road was opened on Dec. 27, but the opening was not publicized and so not many people know about it," he said.

Traffic accidents on the rise in Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Negligence on the part of motorists and the poor condition of roads contributed to a large increase in the number of traffic accidents in Greater Jakarta last year.

In 2007, 4,466 traffic accidents were reported in Jakarta, while in 2006 the number of accidents reported was 40 percent less at 3,908 cases, according to data from the Jakarta Police Traffic Management Center (TMC).

Last year, 754 accidents were reported in East Jakarta, which was exactly the same number of accidents reported in the area the previous year.

In North Jakarta, traffic accidents increased by almost 120 percent in 2007, with some 701 accidents reported. The number of accidents in South Jakarta in 2007 increased by 67 percent to 640.

"Most of the accidents involved motorcycles," TMC officer First. Brig. Yoka Mulyadi told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

"The main factor contributing to the huge number of traffic accidents in Jakarta is the negligence of motorists," he added.

Separately, Fransiscus Trisbiantara, the head of transportation studies at Trisakti University, said most motorcycle accidents occurred because riders were unskilled. He said research showed that more than 50 percent of accident victims did not have driving licenses.

He said the poor condition of several roads around the city also contributed to the increasing number of accidents in 2007.

Last year the university joined forces with several other organizations to conduct research into the cause of accidents in Jakarta. Their findings revealed that on average more than 300 casualties were reported in Jakarta per month due to motorcycle accidents.

"Our numbers are higher than police figures because we also checked hospitals," Trisbiantara told the Post.

He said the construction of busway lanes and toll roads also affected road conditions, which in turn had the potential to cause accidents when there were no signs to warn motorists.

To prevent motorcycle accidents, Trisbiantara said police should carry out more raids on motorcycle riders to check their licenses and other documents.

"Police should also enforce regulations that oblige motorcyclists to stay on the left side of the street," he said, adding that the city administration should provide special lanes for motorcyclists.

Police data shows that accidents in 2007 involved 4,296 drivers, with 508 deaths and 2,810 injuries recorded in total.

Last year the Traffic Management Center received more than 700,000 reports and questions covering 16 categories. These included accidents, traffic regulation violations, traffic congestion, driving licenses, vehicle ownership documents, vehicle tax, lost vehicles, vehicle identity queries, gambling, drugs, thuggery, bomb threats, criticism, advice and compliments.

"People often ask us about vehicle identity information before they purchase cars or motorcycles. They want to compare our data with the data given by vehicle sellers," Yoka said.

The center also received 17,755 reports and complaints related to traffic congestion in the city last year.

People can contact the center by sending a text message to 1717, calling 021-5276001, visiting www.lantas.metro.polri.go.id, calling Suara Metro Radio 107,8 FM on 570-8037 or 08121111911 or by sending a fax to 021-5276004. (dia)

Airport employees receive awards

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

A team of experts received an award Friday for designing a backup air traffic control system at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II presented the award to the 13-member team to recognize their contribution to the company.

The backup radar system, which was installed at the airport in September last year, is called the Jakarta Automatic Airtraffic Support System (JAASS). It is used to backup the airport's main traffic control system, known as the Jakarta Automatic Air Traffic Control System (JAATCS).

The chief of the airport's air traffic service department, Wiyono, led the team, who worked on the JAASS project for two years.

A similar system is also currently being developed at Supadio Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.

"The bad experience of our main system malfunctioning in 2004 prompted us to design and create a backup system. We know that such a malfunction might occur again in the future," he said.

On March 18, 2004, the JAATCS shut down, delaying 80 flights over a three-hour period at the country's main airport. The delays left thousands of passengers stranded.

The following day, the system malfunctioned again, delaying a further 113 flights.

PT Angkasa Pura II said it was the first time the country's main airport had experienced radar malfunctions.

However, in a similar case in 1998, more than 100 flights were delayed due to an electrical fault that affected the airport's radar encoder.

Wiyono said in the 1998 incident, a computer malfunctioned, resulting in air traffic controllers being unable to access key flight data.

Several flights were rerouted to Halim Perdana Kusuma airport in East Jakarta and officers were forced to resort to a manual air traffic control system. An expert from Canada was called in to solve the problem.

"Unfortunately, the Canadian expert also failed to repair the system," Wiyono said.

He said technicians reinstalled data on the main computer connected to the radar, allowing the system to run as normal again.

Wiyono said if the main system malfunctioned again, the new backup system would automatically replace it and air traffic would not be affected.

"The JAASS system will be installed at all airports across the country," Haryanto said.

During Friday's ceremony, the airport operator also presented awards to 24 other staff members for their contributions to public service and law enforcement.

Among award recipients were the operators of four closed circuit televisions who managed to foil a number of drug smuggling attempts.

The award recipients received certificates and cash prizes.

Haryanto said the company would continue rewarding hard-working employees.

"Such awards will be presented to employees who have contributed something useful to the company," he said.

Yogyakarta to reopen direct international flights

Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta's tourism industry is expected to bounce back this year thanks to the reopening of direct international flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by the end of this month, says a tourism official.

Yogyakarta Tourism Office head Tazbir said Wednesday Yogyakarta would recommence direct international flights as local tour operators were convinced the province was ready to host foreign visitors again.

"Thanks to the reopening of international flights, we can now bank on international tourist arrivals, on top of those from Denpasar and Jakarta. Visitors from Asian and European countries will be able to directly arrive through the Adisucipto Airport in Yogyakarta," said Tazbir.

Direct international flights to Yogyakarta commenced two years ago, but were suspended after a powerful earthquake devastated the city in 2006.

The direct flights would be served by Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia, each flying the Kuala Lumpur-Yogyakarta route. Malaysia Airlines is scheduled to serve the route three times a week, while Air Asia will serve four times a week.

Malaysia Airlines will use its 144-seat Boeing 737-400 jetliners and fly from Kuala Lumpur to Yogyakarta on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, while Air Asia will use its 180-seater Airbus 320 jetliners, and serve the route on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

"We are positive the targeted tourist arrival total of 150,000 will be reached thanks to the direct international flights. In 2007, Yogyakarta recorded only around 100,000 international tourists," Tazbir said.

He added the direct flights were expected to attract an extra 50 foreign visitors per day, while the remaining visitors would arrive via Jakarta and Denpasar.

"Our cultural tourism attracts many visitors ... people also come here for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE)," said Tazbir.

The extra flights to Yogyakarta, he said, would have a positive impact on tourism and the local economy.

He added the local tourism sector had been looking forward to the direct international flights, because based on a 2007 tourism survey, most foreign visitors to Yogyakarta had arrived aboard aircraft, followed by trains and buses.

There are currently 26 domestic flights serving Yogyakarta daily, carrying up to 4,500 passengers. Yogyakarta has, until now, relied on overseas tourist arrivals through Jakarta and Denpasar.

"On top of promoting MICE tours, we will also boost our promotional campaigns through the internet, as surveys indicate information from the internet ranked second in drawing visitors to Yogyakarta," said Tazbir.

Most foreign visitors to Yogyakarta, data revealed, came from the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Great Britain, France, Japan, Belgium, Poland, the U.S. and Switzerland.

New-Depok Manggarai service launched

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api launched Thursday its new South Line train, which will run between Depok in West Java and Manggarai in South Jakarta.

"We hope commuters will not mind spending a bit more money and will start using this train," PT KA public relations official Akhmad Sujadi said.

During the morning rush hour, commuters crowd into the economy-class trains that currently serve the route. Due to overcrowding, sometimes passengers can be seen hanging out of train doors or riding on the top of carriages.

The existing train services remain the fastest and cheapest way to travel between Depok and Manggarai, with tickets costing Rp 1,500 (approximately US$0.15).

Another alternative, the air-conditioned Pakuan train, runs between Kota in West Jakarta and Bogor in West Java. However, this service does not stop at every station. Tickets for the Pakuan train are priced at Rp 13,000.

The South Line train, which can hold up to 750 passengers, costs Rp 6,000 per trip. It travels from Depok station to Manggarai station at 5:45 a.m. and 7:25 a.m. each morning and from Manggarai to Depok at 4:10 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. each afternoon.

The train stops at the Depok Baru, Pondok Cina, Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Pancasila, Lenteng Agung, Tanjung Barat, Pasar Minggu, Kalibata, Cawang and Tebet stations before terminating at Manggarai station.

Akhmad said the stainless-steel colored train was once operated by a Japanese company. He said it is in good working order and has never been used in Indonesia before.

He said with one ticket commuters could travel on both the South Line train and the Ciliwung Blue Line train.

The Ciliwung Blue Line train, which travels 27 kilometers from Manggarai to Jatinegara, was operating again Thursday after several services were canceled Wednesday due to floods, Ahmad said.

Transportation expert Darmaningtyas recently said the South Line train had the potential to solve traffic problems in Jakarta.

"As long as existing train stations are well integrated with other public transportation systems in the city, the new line has the potential to solve the city's traffic problems," Darmaningtyas said.

Connected busway stations and train stations in Jatinegara and Manggarai are good examples, he said.

"Also, give pedestrians proper sidewalks so they can move easily between stations," he said.

Darmaningtyas said PT KA had a few problems to iron out if it wanted to encourage more passengers to use the service.

"The biggest problem I see right now is the headway time, which is the amount of time people need to queue to buy train tickets. Long lines really discourage people from using trains," he said.(anw)

New system 'may overcome congestion'

Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Transportation analysts have urged the city administration to focus on the development of an integrated public transportation system in 2008 to soothe Jakarta's chronic traffic woes.

The head of the City Transportation Council, Edi Toet Hendratno, said Wednesday the administration should consider integrating the already-established busway network with railway-based transportation in Jakarta.

"Trains are the most efficient and fastest carrier of people," he said.

As Jakarta already has an extensive railway network in place, the administration needs to do nothing more than connect train stations with busway stops, he said.

"We can use existing trains and railway lines that connect parts of Greater Jakarta. They're still in good shape but are under-utilized," said Edi.

"So under this new system, when a commuter takes a train they will wait no longer than 10 minutes for a busway bus to come," he said.

Edi said the council had conducted investigations into the combined system and had received a positive response from state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia.

"We'll submit the plan to the administration on Friday," he said, adding that the administration would make the final decision on the plan.

"The future of railway-based transportation is bright and Jakarta's traffic situation will be far better if the administration takes this seriously," he said.

After two decades of sitting idle, a circle-line train with the capacity to carry up to 400 passengers per trip was revived last month by the administration.

The air-conditioned Ciliwung train sets off from the Manggarai train station in South Jakarta, traveling through five municipalities.

The administration is also planning to launch a south-line train on Thursday that will connect Manggarai in South Jakarta to Depok in West Java.

Echoing Edi's sentiments, a member of the Transportation Study Institute (Instran) and chairman of the Jakarta Residents Forum, Azas Tigor Nainggolan, said Jakarta's traffic problems may be overcome if the administration decides to integrate the busway system and railway networks.

"We're expecting the administration to come up with a tremendous transportation solution this year and it would be good if it combined the busway and train networks," he said.

"The administration would only have to spend a minimal amount of money to develop the integrated transportation system because railway networks already exist in the city and it could use busway's seven existing corridors."

However, Azaz said the administration should investigate the performance and financial reports of the busway operator, dismantle the company's "corrupt" management and replace its "officials with professionals" before going ahead with the plan.

Emission Zones to be Applied Next Year

Friday, 28 December, 2007 | 16:45 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Jakarta's Regional Environment Management Agency (BPLHD) will apply the emission zone concept next year. BPLHD's Head, Rama Natakusumah, said that his side has not yet confirmed when the emission zone will be effective. “Now we’re educating the public. But we're attempting it to be as soon as possible,” he told Tempo via telephone, Friday (28/12).

By this zoning, said Budi, vehicles which are without emission-free stickers will be forbidden to enter certain areas. “Later, entering parking or offices will also be forbidden for vehicles without stickers,” he said.

Starting January 1, 2008, BPLHD will hand over the emission test to private parties. “We are cooperating with the Indonesian Auto Repair Shop Association and the Indonesian Vehicle Industry Association,” said Budi. BPHLD will limit its role as regulator and supervisor. “Starting from emission test to sticker printing, we submit to them,” he said. So far there have already been 214 repair shops that can conduct emission testing.

BPHLD will also make efforts regarding implementing Decree No.14/1994 on Traffic and Transportation. According to the decree, vehicles that do not meet the emission standard can be charged with a Rp2 million fine or three months of detention.

Sofian

Focus on physical expansion takes its toll on services

Adisti Sukma Sawitri and Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Some years ago, then Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso was presented with a striking prediction for the city's traffic in a report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

By 2014, the report said, Jakarta would experience gridlock unless the administration took steps to alleviate the problem.

"I was told that by 2014 I would probably get in my car and leave the garage only to find a severely packed street before me," Sutiyoso once told The Jakarta Post.

"I immediately ordered my subordinates to call transportation experts to my office. I asked them to design an integrated public transportation system."

Under his iron-fist leadership, Sutiyoso established the Macro Transportation Framework in 2004, offering a comprehensive solution to the city's traffic congestion with a system that included two rail-based transit lines, water transportation and a busway.

His initial breakthrough was the completion of the first busway corridor in 2004, which he had ordered despite a public outcry.

If failures are poisonous, success was definitely addictive. Detractors were silenced the moment the Blok M-Kota corridor opened, and Jakartans from all walks of life began to see hope in the future of Jakarta's public transportation.

Sutiyoso won several awards for his policies that year, and afterwards, the former chief of the Jakarta Military Command went on to construct four corridors in only a year, in 2006.

A mid-level official who requested anonymity said the governor's strategy at the time was "to build first, improve later".

"He (Sutiyoso) told us the most important thing we could do was finish the (construction of lanes). Improvements and services could be added after all 15 corridors were established," the source said.

The administration's plan for the busway system was quite simple. The Public Works Agency and the Transportation Agency agreed each would tender engineering projects for corridors, with the former dealing in lane construction and road adjustments while the latter built shelters, pedestrian bridges and other support infrastructure.

The Public Works Agency took the responsibility for the environmental impact analysis and the Transportation Agency dealt with the traffic management study, including the impact of the construction phase on the traffic flow along affected roads.

Construction of shelters and other supporting infrastructure usually takes more time than lane construction. Construction for Corridors 4 to 7, for example, took less than six months, while shelters and other supporting facilities could take two years.

In the Corridor 5 Kampung Melayu-Ancol, for example, the Transportation Agency is still building a fence separating roads at Jl. Jatinegara despite the corridor's opening earlier this year.

The absence of pedestrian bridges along the main thoroughfare has led people to cross the streets and busway lanes at random, and motorists have to frequently brake to avoid hitting pedestrians.

The time gap between the construction of the lane and its supporting facilities has led to a rocky start for the busway.

The focus on infrastructure expansion, and not the improvement of supporting facilities, was justified by arguments of convenience: lane construction was simply easier and more visible.

The recent problem with Corridor 8 Lebak Bulus-Harmoni was also due to hastened construction. The Public Works Agency went ahead with the corridor's construction in September without an environmental impact assessment, which came in vain two months later.

The absence of the analysis made residents of Pondok Indah angry as it seemed the administration constructed the lanes without considering the affected surroundings.

The detailed engineering design of routes, shelters and pedestrian bridges for the three corridors also came late this year, as no one bid for it last year.

Asia regional director of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, John Ernst, said after the relative success of the first corridor (Blok M-Kota), the expansion had been "overly ambitious". The city went on constructing despite the lack of legal details and arrangements, he said.

He said the administration's focus on expansion had made related agencies and institutions less coordinated with one another.

"A longer time for planning would have improved operational quality in each corridor," he said.

Head of the Transportation Agency Nurrachman said the rapid expansion was pushed by Sutiyoso.

"The target of 15 corridors in 2010 was the former governor's (Sutiyoso) request. As a subordinate, I only followed orders," he said.

Nurrachman denied the charge his agency was the one primarily responsible for any failures.

"We did everything together with other related agencies," he said, referring to the Public Works Agency, the Illumination Agency and the Parks Agency.

Responding to criticism on the differing qualities of busway facilities, Nurrachman blamed it on the lack of financial support.

"We would have built the largest and the most convenient infrastructure if we had the resources. Sometimes busway facilities need to be built on private lands; it's not easy dealing with them when we don't have money to buy them," he said. (lln)

Hasty planning puts busway expansion into slow lane

Adisti Sukma Sawitri and Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It has been a roller-coaster year for the administration, campaigning for its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

After gaining various awards and praise for the public transit solution last year, the administration faced public criticism, in the fourth quarter of 2007, over its handling of the busway network expansion, with more main thoroughfares becoming obstructed.

Amid Jakarta's chronic traffic congestion, motorists found a new scapegoat for the problem: the busway and its exclusive lanes.

The resistance became so loud that the administration has decided to stop construction on the network next year.

"Motorists get really angry because they feel they have been forced into sacrificing their roads for a system which does not work, but the busway is still the most modern form of transit available for (Jakarta) passengers," said Rudy Thehamihardja, a transport surveillance officer from the Heritage Foundation (a non-profit organization overseeing transportation development).

The busway network is one of four modes of transport planned under the administration's Macro Transportation Framework.

Established in 2004, the busway was intended to provide an alternative mode of transport for Jakarta citizens. The administration predicted that without significantly increasing its roads, Jakarta would become gridlocked by 2014.

Since other means of public transport including a monorail, subway and water vessels were considered either more expensive or unfeasible, the administration has invested more than Rp 1 trillion on expanding the busway network over the last five years.

Since the construction of the first busway corridor (joining Blok M and Kota) began in 2002 the administration has targeted to complete 15 corridors by 2010.

With rapid network expansion -- four new corridors last year and three this year -- the administration and its busway management company, Transjakarta, have paid less attention to detail in the quality of service provided.

Among other basic necessities which have slipped past the planning board, the administration and the Transjakarta busway management company failed to furnish bus companies in the network with clear contracts to ensure standards were met and maintained.

PT Jakarta Ekspress Trans (operating corridor 1, Blok M-Kota) and PT Trans Batavia operating (corridors 2 and 3) have both been given contracts but without clear arrangements for rewards or penalties.

Unlike the system the Jakarta busway is based on, in Bogota, Colombia, Transjakarta has yet to implement a minimum daily kilometer (payment) arrangement for its bus companies. The present payment structure is fixed only when a fuel price increase occurs.

Jakarta busway operators are paid based on the total number of kilometers traveled, regardless of the time buses spend stuck in traffic jams at intersections (often because other vehicles have been allowed to use the exclusive lanes).

"We experienced a price hike on spare parts last year but have yet to receive a payment adjustment for this," PT Jakarta Ekspress Trans personnel and finance director Ibnu Susanto said.

The contracts also do not mention rewards or punishments for bus companies not adhering to minimum service standards.

Companies operating corridors 4 to 7, PT Jakarta Mega Trans and PT Jakarta Trans Metropolitan, do not have permanent contracts yet despite operating for one year.

"We've conducted our service based on a letter from the administration," PT Jakarta Mega Trans (operating corridors 5 and 7) operational director Gani Kamaludin said.

The letter simply states Transjakarta would pay some Rp 12,885 per operational kilometer, without elaborating on how this figure was met.

PT Jakarta Trans Metropolitan (serving corridors 4 and 6) operational director I Gde Bagus Oka, said his company did not benefit under present conditions. He said it had faced growing inefficiency with increased traffic jams since the opening of the exclusive lanes, and long waiting times at CNG filling stations.

"We understand the administration wanted to build the network as quickly as possible, but in the long run of course we are looking for a more secure arrangement," he said.

The administration only built two CNG stations on Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta and Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in East Jakarta. These are supposed to serve 238 gas-fueled buses in corridors 2 to 7, meaning buses spend up to two hours just to refuel.

Buses needing to refuel during the day have resulted in waiting times well beyond the targeted maximum 10 minutes.

Various studies showed passenger waiting times were anywhere between 5 and 60 minutes at busway shelters.

Transjakarta head Dradjad Adhyaksa attributed the poor service record to a "limited" budget and "high" overhead.

Transjakarta needed to cut its operating costs by reducing busway services outside peak hours, Dradjad said.

"I will not say we work inefficiently or ineffectively. This is the best service we can provide on such a limited budget," he said.

Transjakarta gets its revenue from ticket sales and government subsidies. Last year some 25 percent of the company's Rp 174.52 billion operating cost came from subsidies.

The four new corridors that opened this year, however, increased Transjakarta's dependency on government funding. Approximately 54 percent of its estimated Rp 433 billion running cost came from the city budget. Dradjad said Transjakarta would spend 72 percent of its operating costs on bus companies alone.

The poor service and failure to produce conducive contracts were largely beyond Transjakarta's control, Dradjad said.

"We have service standards for operators ... but we cannot enforce them because there are too many conditions beyond our control," he said.

Dradjad said Transjakarta did not have any power in the decision making process, for example, in the current mixed traffic arrangement or the limited number of gas refilling stations.

He said the poor service was due to tardy procurement of extra buses by two companies within the network; Jakarta Mega Trans and Jakarta Trans Metropolitan.

Transjakarta opened corridors 4 to 7 in January 2007, with only eight buses operational. A contract between Transjakarta and the corridor's two bus companies stated that the latter would provide 129 buses by January. Because of the shortfall, buses from other corridors were sent to the four new corridors.

Dradjad declined to say why Transjakarta had insisted on opening the corridors.

"We just try and do what we are told. It is not in my capacity to say whether the services were premature or not," Dradjad said.

Ciledug underpass to finish next year

TANGERANG (Jakarta Post) : The construction of an underpass on Jl. H.O.S. Cokroaminoto and an overpass on Jl. Bypass Sudirman will be completed before the scheduled date in May, 2008, an official says.

"These Tangerang-based projects, funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), are almost finished. The construction of the overpass is 60 percent complete and the underpass is about 80 percent complete. I think both projects will be finished before the scheduled date in May," the city administration's Public Works Agency director, Engkan Lengkana Ranu, said over the weekend, as quoted by Tempointeraktif news portal.

Lengkana said the Ciledug underpass, which is being built by PT Jaya Konstruksi, would reduce congestion at the intersection between Jl. H.O.S. Cokroaminoto and Jl. Raden Fatah.

"According to the contractor's report, the underpass should be able to open in February, 2008, which will improve access to Jakarta from Tangerang," he said. --JP

Air Force increases national weaponry capability target

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The new Air Force chief Vice Marshal Subandrio revealed Saturday his short-term target of achieving a 60-percent weaponry capability, a slight increase from the current less-than 50 percent.

"Even with around 60 percent readiness, it is still hard for us to cover the whole country. But at least it is already sufficient to handle disaster-affected areas," Subandrio told reporters after a ceremony that marked the passage to him of the Air Force leadership command baton from predecessor Marshal Herman Prayitno here Saturday.

Currently, the Air Force has seven fighting squadrons: F-16s, F-5s, Hawk MK 53s, Hawk 100s, Hawk 200s, OV-10 Broncos and Sukhois.

Only four of the 10 F-16 jet fighters, however, are presently flight-worthy. But as a result of the minimum capability target, the Air Force wants to see five or six more F-16's fit to fly in the future.

Subandrio said the Air Force was seeking to replace its OV-10 Broncos, most of them grounded following accidents this year.

"We will replace the OV-10s with aircraft with a similar light attack function. We have made inquires with a number of countries, including Brazil and Korea."

He added he would continue with programs initiated by Prayitno for increasing the force's capabilities, including the purchase of an additional six Sukhoi jet fighters from Russia to add to the current four.

"I previously served as his (Prayitno's) deputy. So I know all the programs well. I just need to see that plans are implemented as thoroughly as possible."

During Prayitno's term, the Air Force had plans to improve officer professionalism by focusing on education and training. The force also had plans to hold joint exercises with the Army and Navy in 2008 and increase its personnel to 35,000 from the current 30,000.

The ceremony was held at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta and presided over by outgoing Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto.

In his speech Suyanto praised Prayitno for good work during his two-year term as Air Force chief.

"Marshal Herman Prayitno has done a good job ... He took good care of the Air Force."

Suyanto asked for similar hard work from the new Air Force chief who he said would have to shoulder tough national defense duties in the future.

As deputy, Subandrio will be assisted by Rear Marshal Gusti Made Oka.

Born in Bandung on March 22, 1953, Subandrio graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1975.

The father of three started his career as a helicopter pilot for the Air Force's operational wing in Bogor, West Java. He later served as a Bell 204 Iroquois, Hughes-500 and Bell-47G Solloy flight instructor. He was appointed Commander of the Air Force's elite forces, Paskhas, in 2003 and appointed as Deputy Air Force chief September this year. (lln)

Two dead, three missing in Indonesia plane crash: official

Banda Aceh, Indonesia (ANTARA News) - Two people were killed and another two critically injured when a light navy plane crashed in Indonesia's Aceh province Sunday, an official and reports said.

The Nomad aircraft crashed on Weh island, north off the provincial capital of Banda Aceh shortly after it took off at 11:00 am (0400 GMT), Munawarliza Zainal, mayor of Sabang city on Weh, told AFP.

Zainal said four of the seven crew were found in "critical condition," while three others are still missing. Two of the survivors later died in hospital, state news agency Antara reported.

Navy and police launched rescue teams to find three other missing passengers. The Sabang navy base commander was reported to be among them.

Analysts call for cleaner air

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city seems to have taken up a new hobby: establishing Car Free Days. On Dec. 30 it will celebrate the third such day in four months.

This time it will be held in two areas: Jl. Sudirman and Thamrin in Central and South Jakarta and Old Town in West Jakarta.

The city calculates that during the last Car Free Day in November, emissions decreased by 40 percent.

However, transportation analysts say such events alone will not have significant, lasting impacts on Jakarta's air quality.

"Car Free Day is not enough," said Damantoro, transportation and environment program officer at Swisscontact.

"The idea of Car Free Day is to reduce the use of private vehicles. But if public transportation is not improving, the goal will not be reached," he said.

Bambang Susantono of the Indonesian Transportation Society urged the administration to improve public transit.

He said more people would use it if it were safe, affordable, reliable and comfortable.

In 2005, the city enjoyed only 28 days of good air quality. The number has since risen gradually, with 45 days in 2006 and 60 days until Dec. 27 this year. The administration hopes to raise the total to 100 days in 2008.

To encourage people to use public transportation, Damantoro said the administration should urge real estate developers to provide it in housing estates. Residents there often have no alternative to buying a car.

"Housing estates could be a good place to introduce people to public transportation," he said.

Bambang said the administration should apply a two-pronged, "push and pull" strategy.

He explained that the "push" could take the form of limiting vehicles in the city center, setting high parking rates and using a three-in-one policy. The "pull" would be improving public transportation.

Driejana, a lecturer at Bandung Institute of Technology, said the administration should explore other options to clear the air.

She explained that an eco-friendly building that used natural lighting could also reduce air pollution.

A 2006 study showed that the amount of benzene in Jakarta's air was four times higher than acceptable levels, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution was 30 times higher.

The city administration says 70 percent of air pollution in Jakarta comes from car emissions, and the rest from industry.

On weekdays, at least 2.5 million private cars and 3.8 million motorcycles traverse the city's roads.

Budirama Natakusumah, head of the city's Environmental Management Board (BPLHD), emphasized that besides holding Car Free Day, the administration planned to start enforcing compulsory vehicle emissions tests in January.

Depok-Manggarai line to run January

JAKARTA (Jakarta Post) : An air-conditioned economy-class electric train line is scheduled to begin carrying passengers between Depok and Manggarai Jan. 3, next year.

The fare, set at Rp 6,500, allows passengers to continue their journey on the inner city "Ciliwung Blue" line, PT Kereta Api Indonesia spokesperson Akhmad Sujadi said Friday, as quoted by detik.com.

The Depok-Manggarai train line meets Ciliwung Blue Line at Manggarai station in South Jakarta. Ciliwung Blue Line travels a circular route serving North, South, East and Central Jakarta.

Akhmad said the new train had a capacity to carry up to 1,500 passengers in 10 air-conditioned carriages at any one time.

Akhmad said the train would stop at Depok, Pondok Cina, Lenteng, Tanjung Barat, Pasar Minggu Baru, Kalibata, Cawang, Tebet and Manggarai.

At this stage, he said, the train would run from Depok twice in the morning, and from Manggarai twice in the afternoon.

"We have not finalized the schedule yet, but the train will run during peak hours," he said.

City preparing for New Year's Eve

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With millions of people expected to crowd entertainment centers in Jakarta on New Year's Eve, the city administration and the police are preparing to deploy more than 17,000 officers in an effort to step up security and manage traffic in the capital.

The police would intensify security in entertainment parks, shopping malls, train stations, bus stations, the Soekarno-Hatta international airport and other public places, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Adang Firman said.

To celebrate the New Year, the city administration has organized festivities at three locations: the National Monument in Central Jakarta; Ancol Amusement Park in North Jakarta; and Taman Mini Indonesia Park in East Jakarta.

"This is to prevent heavy traffic congestion in those areas," Governor Fauzi Bowo said.

From the total 681 entertainment hubs holding New Year's Eve parties, the police would prioritize the National Monument and Ancol, according to the Jakarta Police Traffic Management Center.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Sr. Comr. Heru Winarko said the security would be tightened at the National Monument, as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to visit the location.

"We will close the streets around the monument to motorists from 4 p.m., to prevent traffic jams in the area. So after that time people will have to go to the monument by foot," Heru said.

The streets that will be closed to motorists are Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur; Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat; Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara; and Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan.

About 500 meters from the monument, the police would reroute motorists to park their vehicles at Gambir Train Station, Istiqlal Mosque and other nearby parking lots, he said.

Last year, millions of people flocked the National Monument during the New Year's Eve celebration, causing heavy traffic jams in the area, he said.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Herri Wibowo, deputy chief of the Central Jakarta Police, said the city administration would open a coordinating center to manage crime and loss reports in the National Monument area.

At the National Monument, a free music concert featuring top bands and a fireworks display have been planned to welcome the new year. Traditional attractions and the lighting of 2,008 torches will enliven the celebration at Taman Mini in addition to the fireworks and music shows.

Meanwhile, Ancol park management will offer a coastal experience with music and dance performances, fireworks and traditional attractions as part of the so-called Jakarta Seaside Festival. (dia)

City to embrace another car-free day

JAKARTA (Jakarta Post) :The city administration will hold a Car Free Day this Sunday as part of efforts to curb air pollution in the city.

The head of the city's Environmental Management Board (BPLHD), Budirama Natakusumah, said the city would have another Car-Free Day in the Old Town area in West Jakarta and on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta.

"The program will be concentrated in the two areas," Budirama said Thursday.

The program will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Budirama said the administration had committed to holding the event once a month.

"We will hold Car Free Day on the fourth week every month," he said.