Banjarmasin Bus Rapid Transit Planned To Stay Free Until 2024

Banjarmasin BRT when serving passengers. (ANTARA/Humas Banjarmasin Transportation Agency)

BANJARMASIN - Acting Head of the Banjarmasin City Transportation Service, South Kalimantan, Slamet Begjo, stated that the Banjarmasin Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service is planned to remain free until 2024.

"The policy of the BRT leadership is still free, it is even planned until 2024," said Slamet in Banjarmasin, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, March 2.

According to him, changing people's habits of switching from private to public vehicles is not easy, as in Jakarta in the beginning, so it requires continuous effort and socialization, the Banjarmasin City Government does that.

"So you need to be patient, because it's not easy, it can't be short, so it's still free," said Slamet.

Since the launch of the Banjarmasin BRT in 2020 to support the smart city concept, no fees have been charged for passengers.

The City Government continues to provide subsidies for maximum service to the community in the field of public transportation.

The "Tayo" bus, also called the Banjarmasin BRT, serves three routes with 4 fleets each.

The first route is Pal 6-Pasar Antasari, namely Scout Street, Veteran Street, Gatot Subroto Street, Ayani Street and Prince Antasari Street.

Second, the route of Jalan Pangeran Antasari, Jalan Pangeran Samudera, Jalan Lambung Mangkurat, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman or Kilometer Zero Monument, Jalan Keramaian, Jalan Tarakan, Jalan S Parman, to Jalan Hasan Basry Kayu Tangi, Lambung Mangkurat University campus.

The third is the route from Antasari terminal to Mantuil in South Banjarmasin.

According to the Banjarmasin City Transportation Agency report in 2021, as many as 11 thousand passengers each month ride the Banjarmasin BRT, because they are starting to be in demand.

He stated that BRT operates free of charge, because its spirit is not for income, but for moving people from private transportation to public transportation, to deal with traffic jams and traffic congestion.

"This is for good public transportation services for safety," said Slamet.