TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Mass Rapid Transportation (MRT) Jakarta suggested the city administration remove the Transjakarta bus route that coincided with the railway route, said MRT Jakarta operations director Agung Wicaksono.

According to Agung, the route's removal aimed at maximizing the function of MRT as transportation means for the public.

“Basically, it is not a good plan to have a parallel route because the government will pay double the subsidy for two transportation means in the same route,” said Agung in the MRT Fellowship class in Sudirman, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, Oct 17.

Agung said MRT Jakarta had studied the 16-kilometer-long route of its phase 1 railway starting from Lebak Bulus to HI Roundabout. The railway coincided with the Transjakarta bus route Corridor 1 of Blok M-Dukuh Atas.

“As integrated transportation, MRT will still rely on Transjakarta bus as the feeder bus,” Agung added.

Meanwhile, Transjakarta spokesman Wibowo said his side had conducted a survey on the matter. The result revealed that 90 percent of bus passengers rejected the dismissal of the bus route.

Besides, Wibowo continued, the Corridor 1 daily served 90,000 passengers. Thus, the route's removal would encourage the public to change transportation means to online ojek (motorcycle taxi) or taxi which likely increase the traffic congestion.

“So, it requires thorough consideration to close the [Transjakarta] Corridor 1,” said Wibowo in a phone call with Tempo, Thursday, Oct 25, adding that the Corridor 1 not only served route of Blok M-Kota but also connected many routes such as Tosari-Ciledug and Monas-Ragunan.

Nevertheless, he said Transjakarta would be better to be used as the feeder bus for the public to access MRT station. “We are currently discussing this with MRT. We are ready on this plan.”

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH