Members Of The House Of Representatives Highlight The Abandoned Electric Bus In Surabaya

Member of Commission C DPRD Surabaya City William Wirakusuma while trying out the Suroboyo Bus mass transportation some time ago. (ANTARA/HO-DPRD Surabaya)

Surabaya legislators highlighted whether or not several electric bus units were operating in the city, which had gone viral on social media (medsos) recently.

Member of Commission C for the Development of the Surabaya City DPRD, William Wirakusuma, said that the electric bus is managed under the authority of the Ministry of Transportation with the DAMRI operator, not in the management of the Suroboyo Bus.

"The electricity bus is a service grant from the Ministry of Transportation to the city of Surabaya, not a grant for its bus unit. The former G-20 Summit electric bus is operated by DAMRI," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, July 7.

William explained that electric buses had indeed operated for several days in the city of Surabaya before finally stopping operating. He had asked the reason for the cessation of the operation of the electric bus to the Surabaya Transportation Agency.

"The electric bus stopped according to information from the Surabaya Transportation Agency because there has been no contract agreement between the Ministry of Transportation and the manager in this case is DAMRI," said William.

After several months of stopping and it was not clear when to operate again, William had suggested that the operation of the electric bus be taken over by the Suroboyo Bus.

"Hopefully it will operate again soon," said the PSI legislator.

He has already suggested that if DAMRI feels heavy being the operator of the electric bus, allow the operation of the electric bus to be carried out by the Suroboyo Bus.

According to him, Suroboyo Bus has the ability, both financially and managerially to become the operator of electric buses.

William said as a member of Commission C and the Budget Agency he had fought for that in 2023 there would be an additional budget for public transportation in the city of Surabaya and it had been approved by the Surabaya City Government and the Surabaya DPRD.

"In addition budgets for public transportation in 2023, I think it is enough to operate electric buses under the management of the Suroboyo Bus until December 2023." William said.

Head of the Surabaya City Transportation Service (Dishub), Tundjung Iswandaru, previously said that the contract between the Ministry of Transportation and DAMRI regarding electric buses had nothing to do with the Surabaya City Government.

"We are only preparing the route, the route and supporting facilities in the form of bus stops and buses," said Tundjung.

However, he said, the Ministry of Transportation promised to be able to resume the operation of electric buses in the city of Surabaya as soon as possible.