Monday, 28 September 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Transportation Agency of North Sumatra Province is preparing a total of 33 pioneer buses in 2026 to improve transportation connectivity for residents in five regencies. The program is specifically aimed at remote, underdeveloped, outermost, and border areas (3TP), while also providing free transportation for students who face difficulties traveling from their homes to schools due to limited transportation services.
Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Transportation Agency Yuda Pratiwi Setiawan explained the plan during a press conference organized by the North Sumatra Provincial Communication and Informatics Agency on Friday, September 25, 2026, in the lobby of the Dekranasda Building at the North Sumatra Governor's Office.
"This pioneer bus program is a Regional Strategic Program (PSD) initiated by the Governor of North Sumatra. The objective is to support residents, particularly students in remote areas whose homes are far from their schools. We are providing free transportation for their journeys to and from school," Yuda said.
According to Yuda, the provincial government is implementing the program as part of its efforts to expand access to public transportation in areas that still have limited transportation services. The pioneer buses are expected not only to make it easier for residents to travel but also to help students carry out their daily education without being hindered by transportation costs or the lack of available vehicles.
Yuda said the North Sumatra Provincial Transportation Agency has identified 18 regencies and cities as priorities because they continue to have remote areas and communities with incomes below the poverty line. However, the government is implementing the program gradually, with services in 2026 initially focused on five regencies.
The five regencies are North Nias, Samosir, Batubara, North Padang Lawas, and Asahan. The selection of the areas was based on an assessment conducted by the North Sumatra Provincial Development Planning, Research and Innovation Agency (Bapperida).
"The selection of these priority areas is based on an assessment by the Development Planning, Research and Innovation Agency (Bapperida). Of the 33 regencies and cities in North Sumatra, 18 areas were identified as underdeveloped, and this year we are initially focusing on five regencies," he said.
Of the 33 buses to be provided in 2026, Samosir, North Padang Lawas, Batubara, and Asahan will each receive six vehicles. North Nias, meanwhile, will receive nine vehicles.
The different number of vehicles allocated to each area is based on the transportation service needs of the respective regions. The government is also taking into account existing transportation services in each regency before determining the type of vehicles to be deployed.
"The buses operating in Asahan, Batubara, and North Padang Lawas will be Hiace buses. In Samosir, we will use L buses, while North Nias will use different vehicles because there are no existing public transportation services there. Carry vehicles will be used in that area," Yuda explained.
The North Sumatra Provincial Transportation Agency will not directly purchase or rent vehicles for the pioneer bus program. Instead, the government is adopting a transportation service procurement model by working with regional transportation companies or third-party operators.
Each regency will receive a budget of Rp600 million for one year. The funds will be used to finance pioneer bus operations with a daily operating distance of up to 60 kilometers.
Through this model, the government can organize transportation services according to residents' needs without having to establish its own vehicle procurement and operational system. Operators working with the government will manage the services according to predetermined routes and requirements.
"For this pioneer bus program, we do not rent or purchase the buses. We only purchase the transportation service and work with operators. The system is similar to the BRT model. The daily operating distance is 60 kilometers," Yuda said.
The model is intended to reach people who live far from existing transportation hubs. Students are among the main beneficiaries of the program, as the government is providing free two-way transportation for school journeys.
The program is also expected to improve connections between areas within the five initially selected regencies. In addition to supporting students' mobility, the transportation services can assist residents with their daily activities, particularly in areas where an adequate public transportation network is not yet available.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government plans to gradually expand the pioneer bus program. After initially serving five regencies in 2026, the number of areas is scheduled to increase to 10 in 2027.
In 2028, the program is expected to expand to 15 areas. From 2029 to 2030, the government is targeting coverage of all 18 prioritized regencies and cities through pioneer bus services.
The stages are part of the government's strategy to gradually expand public transportation access according to needs and available capacity. As coverage expands, residents in 3TP areas are expected to gain easier and more affordable access to transportation services.
The launch of the first phase of the pioneer bus program is scheduled to take place as early as next week. Asahan Regency has been selected as the location for the program's launch.
North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution is expected to officially launch the pioneer bus program in person. The government hopes the launch will mark the beginning of a gradual expansion of transportation services to other priority areas.
"We plan to launch the program in Asahan as early as next week. Hopefully, this program can support students who have so far experienced difficulties traveling from their homes to school," Yuda said.
The provision of 33 pioneer buses in the first phase represents a government effort to strengthen public transportation in areas that continue to face limited connectivity. Through free transportation for students and the gradual expansion of service coverage, the program is expected to support access to education while improving mobility for residents in North Sumatra's priority areas. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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