Palembang, KOTABARI.COM – Today, Tuesday (12/5/2023), all Feeder LRT services operating on corridors 1 and 2 in Palembang city faced a halt in operations. A total of 26 units of Feeder LRT Musi Emas, running routes from Talang Kelapa to Talang Buruk (corridor 1) and Asrama Haji to Sematang Borang (corridor 2), were stationed at the PT Transportasi Global Mandiri (TGM) pool without operating.
Fajar, Head of Operations at PT Transportasi Global Mandiri (TGM), cited the delay due to the pending payment of salaries by the Palembang City Government. “We are awaiting the promise made by the Palembang City Government to pay the salaries today. Once the salaries are disbursed, the drivers will resume operations as usual,” Fajar stated.
The impact of the delayed payments led to 62 Feeder LRT drivers ceasing operations as the operational costs for two months, totaling Rp 1.8 billion, remained unpaid by the local government.
Fajar also revealed that previously, the management had covered the outstanding operational costs of Rp 1.8 billion unpaid by the local government. However, he emphasized that if the payment delays persist, it will disrupt the smooth operations that were previously covered.
Aprizal Hasyim, Head of the Transportation Agency, explained that the delay in payments was due to an ongoing audit process by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). Despite this, there were no contractual obstacles related to the payment of Feeder LRT Musi Emas drivers’ salaries.
Although 29 units, including 26 in operation and 3 reserved, and 62 drivers are currently halted, services continue to cater to approximately 4,500 daily passengers on corridors 1 and 2. These corridors serve routes subsidized by the Palembang city government from Talang Kelapa to Talang Buruk and Asrama Haji to Sematang Borang.
While the Palembang City Government has promised to make salary payments today, the fate of Feeder LRT Musi Emas operations hinges on the realization of this commitment.