The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With Jakartans frantically buying train tickets over the past two weeks so as to return to celebrate the Idul Fitri holidays in their hometowns, it is not surprising that the number of tickets sold at Gambir Station in Central Jakarta has increased compared to last year.
The deputy station master, Ata Sudarta, said Sunday that 25,600 tickets for departures between Oct. 10 and 12 had been sold, marking a 12 percent increase compared to 2006.
"This figure is based on the number of tickets sold for those three days," Ata was quoted as saying by Detik.com news portal.
He added that Gambir Station had prepared three additional trains departing to Surakarta in Central Java and Malang and Surabaya in East Java.
While train tickets have been selling like hotcakes, only 50 percent of ferry seats for departures from Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta, have been reserved.
The port's duty chief, Siswibowo, said the number of ferry passengers was set to decrease this year.
"Only 800 people have booked berths on the PT Pelni ferry, the KM Kelud, sailing to Belawan Port (in Medan, North Sumatra), while the ship has a total capacity of 2,300," he said.
Meanwhile, the port's spokesman, Hambar Wiyadi, said he had set aside a 100 meters of additional wharf space for passenger ships and emptied 10 docking spaces to avoid collisions between cargo ships and passenger ships.
"We've opened a 24-hour service center to assist ships during the Idul Fitri holiday," he said.
Separately, Banten Water Police Director Sr. Comr. Alex Fauzi Rasad said Saturday that the police would tighten security at Merak Port during the exodus.
"Hundreds of officers, comprising intelligence officers and detectives, as well as sharpshooters, will be deployed around the port to protect the people from possible criminal acts," he said in Serang.
He added that the force would also provide three vessels, which belonged to the National Police, and five speedboats to patrol around coastal tourism resorts, the port and the Merak-Bakauheni channel.
"Many crimes happen during this period. So 130 police officers and 150 lifeguards will protect a number of coastal tourist attractions through Lebak, Pandeglang and Serang regencies," said Alex.
In order to anticipate an influx of passengers during the Idul Fitri holidays, the Banten Provincial Transportation Agency will provide about 200 buses.
The agency's operations and control head Bambang Soepeno said he would coordinate with the administrations of Tangerang regency and municipality, as well as Lebak, Serang, Pandeglang and Cilegon regencies to make sure there would be no shortage of buses.
"We hope the exodus will run smoothly this year," he said.
The agency will deploy 80 officers to control bus ticket prices, which are often increased during the holiday, and take action against companies that hike their prices. (08)
(Multa Fidrus in Tangerang contributed to this story)
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