The Ministry Of Transportation's Response To The Proposal For Special Train Cars For Smoking

Director General of Railways (DJKA) of the Ministry of Transportation, Allan Tandiono (second from the right). (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Director General of Railways (DJKA) of the Ministry of Transportation, Allan Tandiono, reiterated that trains are an area without cigarettes (KTR).

Allan's statement was in response to the suggestion of DPR Commission VI member Nasim Khan to propose that PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Tbk provide a special carriage which is intended as a cafe as well as a smoking area or a smoking area on a long-distance train series.

"Based on Law Number 36/2012 concerning Health, and Government Regulation Number 109/2012 concerning the security of materials containing addictive substances in the form of tobacco products for health in public transportation, including trains, it has been designated as an area without cigarettes or KTR," he said in a discussion at the Ministry of Transportation Office, Jakarta, Thursday, August 21.

Allan said the rules were put in place to ensure train travel provides maximum comfort for all customers.

"It must also be ensured that train travel provides maximum comfort for customers, covering clean and healthy air on the train," Allan said.

Furthermore, Allan emphasized that the enforcement of non-smoking areas on trains is part of DJKA's efforts to maintain service quality.

"This policy is in line with applicable regulations. What we always remind, is to focus on service quality," he said.

Previously, Member of Commission VI of the House of Representatives Nasim Khan suggested that PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Tbk provide a special carriage that is designated as a cafe as well as a smoking area or a smoking area on a long-distance train series.

The proposal was conveyed by Nasim Khan in a hearing (RDP) of Commission VI of the DPR, with the President Director of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI Bobby Rasyidin at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 20.

"At least, there is input too, there is one carriage left for the cafe, for coffee, at least there for the smoke area," he said at the meeting.

According to Nasim, the special carriage for the previous smoking area was as good as there. However, he continued, now the special carriage has been removed.

"Because many of these trains do not smoke Pak Bobby's area, at least in this train there is one carriage," he said.

Nasim believes the existence of a special carriage as a smoking area in a series of trains will be very useful. In fact, the benefits for KAI.

Lebih lanjut, Nasim menilai, ini juga bisa menjadi solusi bagi penumpang yang bosan, mengingat jarak tempuh perjalanan bisa sampai berjam-jam.

Dia pun membandingkan dengan bus yang dilengkapi fasilitas tersebut.

“Saya yakin, saya yakin itu pasti bermanfaat dan menguntungkan untuk kereta api. Pasti banyak itu (peminatnya), satu aja (gerbong) untuk kafe, smoking area, karena 8 jam perjalanan jauh pak, di bus aja hampir 8-10 jam itu ada smoking area di bus. Masa kereta sepanjang itu satu gerbong, saya yakin bisa itu,” ujarnya.

Furthermore, Nasim assessed, this can also be a solution for bored passengers, considering that the travel distance can take up to hours.

He also compared the buses equipped with these facilities.

I'm sure, I'm sure it will be useful and profitable for trains. There must be a lot of it (the interest), just one (carriage) for cafes, shopping areas, because 8 hours of long trips, sir, on the bus for almost 8-10 hours there is a smoking area on the bus. During the train period during that one carriage, I'm sure you can do that," he said.