There Is A Dilemma Of Stopping KRL Jabodetabek During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Illustrations (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - A number of regional heads in Jabodetabek want to stop KRL operations during the Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) period to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In a virtual meeting with the Indonesian Parliament yesterday, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan admitted that he had proposed this to the Minister of Ad Interim Transportation Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

"I, two days ago, suggested to the Minister of Transportation Ad Interim that commuter train operations be stopped during the PSBB activities. They are currently discussing it," said Anies, Thursday, April 16.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil also proposed a complete shutdown of the Commuterline KRL operation during the PSBB period. In fact, the man who is called Kang Emil has suggested that the stopping will start on April 18.

Responding to this, Head of the Jabodetabek Transportation Agency (BPTJ) Polana Banguningsih Pramesti confirmed that a number of regions had proposed to temporarily suspend KRL operations.

However, Polana admitted that there had not been any decision regarding the stop because the central government was still discussing it, in this case the Ministry of Transportation, local government, and PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI).

"The proposal to temporarily suspend KRL operations still needs further discussion. For a while until April 17, KRL will continue to operate according to the PSBB, namely on a morning schedule from 05.00 WIB to 18.00 WIB," said Polana when contacted by VOI.

The founder of the AnkerTwitter KRL user community, Fikri Muhammad Gazi, objected to the proposed termination of the Jabodetabek KRL. To VOI, Gazi said, there are still many KRL users who still depend on KRL as the main mode of transportation. They are a number of company employees who must continue to work during the PSBB.

"This suggestion has an impact on us, the train children. With this termination, of course we have to look for other transportation alternatives, which we may not be able to use in the long term due to various reasons, especially the issue of distance and cost," said Gazi.

Gazi, along with other KRL users, feel in a dilemma. On the one hand, they want the KRL to continue operating. However, they are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic is increasingly widespread and there must be a firm cut in the chain of transmission.

"We do not fully support this discourse because there is an impact on those who depend on KRL for their lives. But, we are aware that if there is no drastic action, this epidemic will not be able to contain its spread. So, in the end, we agree, if the discourse of stopping KRL operations is implemented," he explained.

Transportation observer from the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI), Djoko Setijowarno, views that the government should not stop the KRL operation. This is because if the KRL is stopped, it will become a problem for residents who are still working because they do not have the option to use other public transportation.

In fact, according to Djoko, what had to be stopped during the PSBB period were the activities of working for companies, not the transportation system.

"There are still many KRL users. KRL operators (PT KCI) should not be blamed. The government should look into companies that may still operate outside of those permitted," said Djoko to VOI.

Not to mention, Djoko assessed that another problem would come when the government officially stopped KRL. If PT KCI stops operational activities, seven thousand employees will be laid off (termination of employment).

"If it is stopped, there will be 7 thousand who will be laid off. They are outsourcing employees at PT KCI. If they are stopped, will the government bear their living expenses as long as they are not operated?" he said.