Bogor Station Still Crowded during First Day of Bodebek PSBB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bogor Station remains crowded with commuter line (KRL) passengers, as of Wednesday morning, April 15, 2020, even during the first day of the Large Scale Social Distancing (PSBB) enactment in the Bodebek (Bogor, Depok, Bekasi) regions of West Java.

Based on observations, although distancing measures have been set up in the commuter line seats and the station waiting area, a queue still forms when exiting or entering the commuter line.

The number of commuter line passengers heading to Jakarta is almost comparable to the number of passengers heading to Bogor. Passengers are first checked for their body temperature, prior to entering the station platform.

Commuter line operations in the Bogor Station have been observed to remain normal, with the headway distance being in the range of five to ten minutes. This Wednesday, the first commuter line train departed at 04:42 WIB (local time) from the Bogor Station.

One passenger, Meldrick Richardson (29 years), admitted that he continues using the commuter line to get to his workplace in Kebon Sirih, Jakarta, as he considers the commuter line as the most effective mode of transportation. "As long as it is still in operation, the commuter line is (my) choice, because if you ride a motorcycle from Bogor to Jakarta, the distance is quite far," said Meldrick.

Previously, PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) had remained undecided on the proposal to temporarily suspend the operation of KCI's commuter line services, from five regional heads, which are the Deputy Mayor of Bogor, Mayor of Depok, Mayor of Bekasi, Regent of Bogor and Regent of Bekasi.

"There is no (decision) as of yet, we will update it later," said PT KCI External Relations Manager Adli Hakim, when contacted by Antara on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

ANTARA | DIO SUHENDA (INTERN TRANSLATOR)