DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF RAILWAYS PERFORMS RAIL TRANSPORT HEALTH PROTOCOL INSPECTIONS IN AGGLOMERATION REGIONS

Jakarta (16/05) -In order to confirm the implementation of health protocols at stations and during train journeys during the Lebaran 1442 H, several ranks of the Directorate General of Railways have carried out intensive inspections since the homecoming prohibition period was enforced on May 6, 2021. This is in line with the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation Number 13 of 2021 concerning Control Transportation During the Eid Al-Fitr 1442 H / 2021 in the context of Preventing the Spread of Covid-19 and Circular Letter Number 35 of 2021 concerning Amendments to Circular Letter of the Minister of Transportation Number SE 27 of 2021 concerning Instructions for the Implementation of People by Rail Transportation in the 2019 Coronavirus Disease Pandemic Period ( Covid-19).

Director of Railway Traffic and Transportation Danto Restiawan, said that his staff intensively monitors the mobility of people who use rail transportation services, especially in agglomeration areas, after the Eid al-Fitr 1442 H. Since according to PM No. 13 of 2021, urban rail transportation in the agglomeration region is still operating. "We place our officers at stations that serve trains in the agglomeration area, for example in the Jabodetabek, Bandung, Yogya, Solo, Surabaya areas as well as in Medan, Palembang and Lampung areas, both from the Head Office Team and the Railway Engineering Center," explained Danto.

Furthermore, Danto emphasized that this supervision was carried out on the application of the rules for rail transportation during the absence of going home by PT KAI as the operator. "Supervision is carried out on the implementation of documents verification for people's travel requirements by rail transportation and also to what extent the field officers can make arrangements for passenger's travel," continued Danto.

One of the agglomeration rail transportation services which is the main focus of this supervision is the Jabodetabek KRL commuter line. This is because, since the first day of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr 1442 H until the weekend, there has been a tendency of the increasing volume of Jabodetabek KRL commuter line passengers. "The increase in the volume of KRL commuter line passengers, especially seasonal passengers, is a major concern, because they are not familiar with the implementation of health protocols," said Danto. Moreover, there are still many Jabodetabek KRL commuter line passengers who do not keep their distance, are not disciplined in wearing masks, are always in groups, and carry toddlers. "Things as such have the potential to increase the risk of public transportation during a pandemic," continued Danto.

On the same occasion, Danto said that special monitoring was carried out by the Directorate General of Railways on 15 and 16 May 2021 which was predicted to be the peak of the use of the Jabodetabek KRL commuter line by residents. The special inspections and monitoring carried out at Bogor Station, Citayam Station, Depok Station, Bekasi Station, Tambun Station, Serpong Station, Bojonggede Station and Manggarai Station are aimed at ensuring that officers from PT KCI carry out SOPs correctly.

"We want the officers to work swiftly, quickly and responsively to the conditions or behavior of passengers who are not in accordance with the provisions," said Danto. Danto further emphasized that officers must be swift and decisive in breaking up the crowds queuing at the station and on the train. "This is our educational effort to train service users to be aware and disciplined about health protocols in using public transportation during the pandemic," he continued.

In addition to monitoring health protocols, Danto also instructed operators to increase the frequency of the Jabodetabek KRL urban transportation facilities and conduct random antigen tests at strategic stations. This is in accordance with the statement of the Minister of Transportation who requested PT KCI to be more professional in handling KRL commuter line passengers during this period of homecoming prohibition. This is because the accumulation of passengers at stations serving the Jabodetabek KRL commuter line has received special attention from the Minister of Transportation.

In line with the instructions given, efforts to improve passenger arrangements by PT KCI as the operator could be seen in the last two days. These improvement efforts such as the arrangement of queuing at the station, to the limitation of KRL passengers at the departure station by officers. In addition, according to the direction of the Minister of Transportation, random antigen tests have also been carried out for KRL commuter line passengers at Bekasi Station, Bogor Station, Tangerang and Manggarai Station.

Although the improvement efforts have started, Danto acknowledged that there are still many things that can be improved so that services to passengers during this pandemic can be better. In addition, in order to ensure that the waiting time between trains is shorter, the operation pattern is changed through the operation of several Extraordinary Trains (KLB). "We really want to make sure the existing rules have been carried out by the operator well, so that the service users feel safe, comfortable and healthy," concluded Danto. (spn/wid/hj)