TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - New Transjakarta route, Kota-Pinang Ranti, was opened on Wednesday, March 30, 3016. The new route opening has pleased Transjakarta bus’ loyal passengers, like Ernawati, 30. To go home from her workplace in Kota Tua to Cawang, she usually takes Transjakarta corridor 1 Kota-Blok M, transiting at Bendungan Hilir shelter towards Semanggi shelter, which has a long skywalk. “The length [of the skywalk] could make me slim,” Erna said.

Transjakarta Pinang Ranti-Kota buses would stop at the following shelters: Kota-Glodok-Olimo-Mangga Besar-Sawah Besar-Harmoni-Monas-Bank Indonesia-Sarinah-Tosari ICBC-Dukuh Atas 1-Karet. The bus would then circle around Semanggi, stop at Transjakarta Gatot Subroto LIPI-Gatot Subroto Jamsostek-Kuningan Timur-Tegal Parang-Pancoran Barat-Pancoran Tugu-Tebet BKPM-Cikiko Cawang-Cawang Ciliwung-Cawang BNN-Cawang UKI-Garuda Taman Mini-Pinang Ranti.

Therefore, Transjakarta loyal passengers working in Sudirman business district could easily head towards Gatot Subroto business district. The buses used for the new route are articulated buses, instead of regular feeder buses.

Spokesman of PT Transportasi Jakarta, Prasetyo Budi, said that the new route is opened on passenger requests. “We have received many complaints on the Semanggi skywalk which is too long. Therefore, we open the route to make it easier for passengers of corridor 1 and corridor 9 of Pinang Ranti-Pluit,” he said.

Given that the new route is still on trial, only ten articulated bus are in operation on the route. In the future, Prasetyo said that Transjakarta could open other new routes, for example, Ancol-Kuningan Timur route.

INDRI MAULIDAR