Surabaya Gets 34 Electric Bus Units From The Ministry Of Transportation

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - The city of Surabaya, East Java, has received assistance from 34 units of electric buses from the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) in stages starting mid-December 2022.

Head of the Surabaya City Transportation Service (Dishub), Tundjung Iswandaru in Surabaya, Thursday, December 8, said the electric bus was previously used to support transportation services in the implementation of the G20 Summit (KTT) in Bali on November 16-17, 2022.

"It is planned that Surabaya will get around 34 units, but gradually. Maybe this year the latest development (sent) 25 units first, because this year the operation will be around 1-2 weeks. After that, the contract will be the following year," said Tundjung, quoted from Antara.

He explained that the operation of electric buses was carried out through a cooperation contract mechanism between the Directorate General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation and the operator, in this case Djawatan Angkoetan Motor Repoeblik Indonesia (DAMRI).

"So all of those contracts are the Director General of Land Transportation with operators, in this case DAMRI," he said.

Meanwhile, Tundjung said the city government had proposed two routes for the operation of electric buses in Surabaya. The two routes are the first from Purabaya Terminal to Kenjeran Park.

"It was through Jalan Jemursari, SIER, Rungkut, intersection of Mount Anyar, MERR (Middle East Ring Road) to Kenjeran," he said.

As for the second route, he said, starting from Jalan Benowo to Jalan Tunjungan. According to Tundjung, the selection of routes starting from the Benowo area is related to the 2023 U-20 World Cup being held so that it can be connected to the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium (GBT).

"Because it's related later if there is a world trophy, he (the electricbus) can be connected to GBT. This route has changed slightly from the start. Initially we proposed two routes, namely Surabaya-Silver and the second route from Purabaya to MERR," he said.

Even so, he ensured, the city government was ready to fully support the operation of electric buses in the city of Surabaya. Meanwhile, regarding operational technical matters, it will be coordinated with the operator in stages.

"So all the latest developments can be done, it's just a matter of what kind of coordination we will coordinate later. Because it's related to what kind of operation and bus stops," he said.

However, his party also hopes that the operator or manager of electric buses can involve drivers in the city of Surabaya. "We also recommend that we accommodate Surabaya drivers," he said.

Tundjung again explained that in mid-December 2022 as many as 25 electric buses would be sent to Surabaya. While the rest will be sent in stages in 2023. Of course, before the operation of the electric bus is implemented in Surabaya, his party will conduct socialization.

"Later, when we are approaching, we will socialize and soft launch first, we are still finalizing this. We hope that in the future the transfer from private vehicles to public transportation can be better," he said.