Jakarta – Regional leaders of Jakarta's satellite cities have requested that commuter trains serving Greater Jakarta suspend operations during large-scale social restriction (PSBB), as many residents are still crowding train stations to travel to the capital for work.
Leaders of Bogor regency and city, Depok, as well as Bekasi regency and city, asked commuter line operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) to temporarily stop its services during a meeting on Monday.
They also wrote a letter to state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), the Transportation Ministry and governors of Jakarta and West Java regarding the request.
"Such a request was made to make sure that the PSBB policy was effective in curbing COVID-19's transmission," Bogor Deputy Mayor Dedie A. Rachim said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.
The Transportation Ministry, however, had yet to decide on the Greater Jakarta commuter train suspension, although the region had been declared a COVID-19 red zone. Spokesperson Adita Irawati said the government was still looking for a solution for workers who were still using the train to go to their workplace in Jakarta.
"The people need the trains to commute. The central government and local administration must ensure the implementation of work-from-home measures by companies," Adita said on Thursday as quoted by tempo.co.
She added that a Health Ministry regulation on PSBB allowed public transportation services to operate on limited schedules. In addition, the KCI has also reduced the number of trains as well as limited passengers in each car, Adita went on to say.
An epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Pandu Riono, said commuter train services should continue as a suspension could disrupt the operation of vital sectors, including health care and logistics.
"Public transport should operate to transport medical workers, military and police personnel as well as other informal and essential workers," he said on Thursday as quoted by Antara.
He added that precautions should be enacted in public transportation, such as a requirement to wear facemasks and physical distancing measures in stations and train cars.
Jakarta imposed PSBB measures starting on Friday, while its satellite cities in West Java began imposing the police on Wednesday.
Tangerang regency and municipality, as well as South Tangerang in Banten are set to enact the restrictions on Saturday.