KUALA LUMPUR – More than 220,000 express bus tickets from a total of 330,000 have been sold at the Southern Integrated Terminal (TBS) for the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities, and tickets to the east coast states have been completely sold out, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Loke said the remaining 100,000 tickets available were for routes to the northern and southern regions.
He said that TBS operators had made sufficient preparations for the passenger influx during the holiday period.
“They have added more staff to better control the traffic and passenger movement around the terminal, as well as installing and operating more ticket counters to ease the process for the passengers.
“There will also be joint operations between the Road Transport Department and police to inspect the vehicles and documents to ensure the safety of the drivers and passengers throughout the festive season,” he said.
Loke was speaking to reporters after conducting a site visit at TBS in conjunction with the Aidilfitri holiday celebrations.
He further noted the anticipated surge in passenger traffic, especially over the coming weekend.
Loke said TBS was expected to handle approximately 30,000 passengers daily over the period, with 1,000 express bus trips scheduled within a 24-hour time frame.
With 40 buses departing within one hour, the frequency translates to a departure every one and a half minutes, each accommodating an average of 30 to 40 passengers. Loke stressed the importance of meticulous preparations at the bus terminal to effectively manage such demand.
He said as of March 29, the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) had issued 217 additional buses through temporary change permits to accommodate the high passenger numbers expected.
He added that more applications for the permit were expected before the deadline closes at 4pm today, adding that 256 buses were approved by Apad last year.
Loke also said security had been tightened at the bus terminal, with 24-hour security patrols by both auxiliary and regular police, as well as continuous security monitoring with more than 623 CCTVs installed for public safety.
The minister said that passenger safety remained his ministry’s utmost priority, highlighting Apad’s screening process for approved additional buses. These screenings ensure compliance with stringent criteria, encompassing vehicle safety inspections and the inclusion of GPS systems.
Loke underscored the necessity for bus drivers to undergo thorough screening tests to ascertain their sobriety and adherence to prescribed trip limits, thereby guaranteeing sufficient rest periods.
Also present were Apad director-general Datuk Azlan Shah Al Bakri and Maju Group chief executive Datuk Roslan Shariff.
“In the 14 years that TBS has been operating, it has managed to rake in over RM1 billion from ticket sales, which equals more than 100 million passengers utilising the services of TBS,” Loke said. – April 2, 2024