Kalideres Terminal Experiences Increase In Bus Passengers Ahead Of The Christmas And New Year Holidays

Illustration of AKAP bus passengers (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The increase in bus passengers at Kalideres Terminal has increased ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays. In fact, the spike has occurred since Friday, December 17.

Head of Kalideres Terminal Revi Zulkarnaen said, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of passengers never exceeded 100 people. However, since last Friday there has been an increase in the number of passengers in a day there are as many as 150 people going to various cities.

"There has been an increase from December 17 yesterday and it is predicted that there may be another increase on December 22 tomorrow," he told reporters, Tuesday, December 21.

Furthermore, Revi said, many hundreds of passengers returned to West Sumatra or Padang. There are also those to Central Java, Lampung and West Java.

"So there is indeed a change in goals compared to before the pandemic," he said.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the destinations that were most in demand were Central Java and Lampung. But today, many West Sumatrans are taking advantage of the Christmas and New Year holidays to meet their families.

"Maybe many factories are closed, not running, maybe they are still in their hometown," he said.

Revi has appealed to passengers and PO Bus to transport passengers from Kalideres Terminal. The goal is that passengers who go to their hometowns can know their health conditions.

Because at Kalideres Terminal there are antigen swab locations, both paid and free.

"Especially the Akap bus terminal, so that departing passengers can be checked for requirements, so as not to endanger the safety of other passengers," he said.

In addition, the manager of the Kalideres terminal, West Jakarta, has established three command posts since Friday, December 17. The command post is located inside the Kalideres Terminal which consists of a security post, a health post and a vehicle feasibility test post.