JAKARTA GOVT CONTINUES DISCUSSING PLAN TO BUY 4,000 BUSES

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, March 6 (Antara) - Although 15 imported Transjakarta buses, including 10 articulated buses, are found to have been damaged and suffering from corrosion problems, the Jakarta government will continue discussing plans to import 4,000 more buses, worth Rp5 trillion.         "Though we have a problem, we will continue our plan to  purchase buses, because it has been included in the Jakarta regional government budget for 2014 and has been approved by the Jakarta Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD)," Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, stated here on Thursday.          The buses to be bought include 1,000 two-section Transjakarta buses and 3,000 others buses.          According to GATRAnews online media, the Jakarta governor hoped industries at home would be able to meet the needs of bus operators for manufacturing buses to spur domestic industries.          Jokowi said he would not withdraw the plan, even though last year the purchase of Transjakarta buses faced problems due to damage and corrosion. "How could we withdraw it? We will go ahead," the Jakarta governor stressed.