Ahead Of The Homecoming Season, Shadow Terminal Begins To Spread In East Jakarta, Official Bus PO Complains About The Loneliness Of Passengers

Pulo Gebang terminal atmosphere. (Photo: VOI/Rizky Sulistio)

JAKARTA - The East Jakarta Transportation Service Sub-dept. claims that it has often brought in control of a number of inter-city inter-provincial intercity bus (AKAP) shadow terminals in the East Jakarta area.

However, ahead of Eid al-Fitr and the peak of the homecoming flow, shadow terminals in East Jakarta are increasingly mushrooming.

Head of the East Jakarta Transportation Sub-department (Kasudin) Dody Setiawan said his party routinely controls the shadow terminal.

"We do it every day. Apart from illegal parking, controlling the shadow terminal is also a top priority almost every day," said Dody when confirmed by VOI, Sunday, April 24.

However, when VOI asked the number of shadow terminals in East Jakarta, Dody could not provide details because he had not seen the control report data.

"Confirmation with Kasiop (East Jakarta Transportation Sub-dept.), I don't have the data," he said.

Previously, the phenomenon of the shadow terminal before the homecoming flow was increasingly mushrooming in the East Jakarta area. This was also complained of by the official bus company operating in a special terminal.

As found at the Autobus Company (PO) at the Pulogebang Integrated Terminal, East Jakarta. At this location, they complained about the existence of a shadow terminal during the 2022 Eid homecoming.

The head of Ageng PO Lorena Karina at the Pulogebang Integrated Terminal, Asik Heriyanto, complained about the existence of the shadow terminal because it made the number of passengers empty.

According to him, passengers are more dominant in departing from the shadow terminal because they do not have to comply with the health protocols (prokes) for the prevention of COVID-19.

"Yesterday, there was a meeting with the Directorate General of Land Transportation regarding this, but in fact there is no (action)," said Asik at the Pulogebang Integrated Terminal.

He gave an example, the departure of passengers at the Pulogebang Integrated Terminal at this time has not even reached 2,000 passengers per day.

According to him, passengers prefer to depart from shadow terminals such as in the Pasar Rebo area, Kramat Jati Main Market, Pangkalan Jati, to Sumber Arta.

Meanwhile, POs at official terminals such as the Pulogebang Integrated Terminal must pay a restitution to the local government of Rp. 300 thousand every month.

"Health protocols at the terminal are being tightened similar to those at airports. You have to use the PeduliLindung application to enter. In my opinion, it can't be the same," he said.

He hopes that the government will eradicate shadow terminals, so that inter-city inter-provincial bus passengers (AKAP) switch to official terminals.