N. Sumatra to review BRT system

MEDAN. The North Sumatra Transportation Agency will review the planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which will link Medan, Binjai and Deli Serdang, and may include the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) in the project following protests from drivers and owners of public transportation in Medan on Monday.

Head of the North Sumatra Association of Public Transportation Owners and Drivers, Israel Situmeang, said that the BRT system, known as Trans Mebidang, would “kill” the livelihoods of public transportation owners and drivers as the Trans Mebidang would use the same routes as the existing public transportation routes.

To solve the issue, North Sumatra Transportation Agency head Anthony Siahaan said that the provincial administration would involve drivers and owners in the BRT project.

It is expected that the BRT system, which is being jointly developed by Medan, Binjai and Deli Serdang administrations, will ease the severe traffic congestion on the Binjai, Medan and Lubuk Pakam, in Deli Serdang, routes.