TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Old and broken medium-sized city buses comprising Metromini and Kopaja will no longer operate in Jakarta in 2019. Land Transport Office head Masdes Arroufy explained that the replacement process of old and broken medium-sized buses will end next year.
Starting January 1, 2019, only buses aged 10 years or less will be allowed to operate in the capital city.
Read: Scania Bus to Replace Kopaja, Metromini
Masdes said that the Jakarta administration has started replacing old buses since 2016. Throughout last year, the Land Transport Office suspended 1,600 medium-sized buses due to the expiry of vehicle inspection, route permit or old age. This year, the office will allow route permit extension provided that owners hand over an old bus to be destroyed. The same will apply next year.
According to Masdes, the replacement is aimed at to reduce broken buses. There were 5,000 middle-sized buses in Jakarta in 2012, such as Metromini and Kopaja. The number has now reduced to around 1,200. The Land Transport Office regularly invites bus owners to discuss a smooth replacement process.
LINDA HAIRANI