27 percent bus fare increase proposed<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
City Governor Sutiyoso has proposed to increase city bus fares by
\nup to 27 percent from current fares in response to the request
\nmade by public transport operators last month.<\/p>\n
In his letter to the City Council on Wednesday, Sutiyoso
\nproposed to increase fares for regular buses to Rp 1,150 from Rp
\n900, for limited express buses to Rp 1,400 from Rp 1,200, and for
\nmedium-sized buses to Rp 1,250 from Rp 1,000.<\/p>\n
Student fares will remain at Rp 500.<\/p>\n
The Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) had
\nearlier proposed a 50 percent increase in bus fares to help bus
\nowners offset the rise in the price of fuel and spare parts since
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso planned to make the fare hike proposal earlier this
\nyear following the decision of the central government to increase
\nfuel prices, but he delayed the announcement arguing that he
\nneeded more time to study the new fares.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 1, the government announced a simultaneous increase in
\nfuel prices, electricity rates and telephone charges, causing
\nnationwide protests against the hikes.<\/p>\n
The price of premium gasoline was raised from Rp 1,750 per
\nliter to Rp 1,810, and from Rp 1,550 per liter to Rp 1,890 for
\ndiesel fuel. The government later cut the diesel price to Rp
\n1,650.<\/p>\n
City Hall spokesman Muhayat said on Thursday that the main
\nissue regarding the tariff increase was that the central
\ngovernment had not implemented its fuel subsidy program for
\npublic transportation.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) earlier criticized
\nthe plan to increase fares for public transportation -- which is
\nnotorious for their poor service -- while it also urged the
\ngovernment to subsidize the service.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Chairman of City Council Commission D for
\ndevelopment affairs Koeswadi Soesilohardjo said that his faction,
\ntogether with Commission C for financial affairs, would discuss
\nthe governor's proposal on Monday.<\/p>\n
He hinted, however, that the Council might agree with the fare
\nincrease, saying that bus operators needed the increase to help
\nthem to cover their operational costs.<\/p>\n
\"If the bus operators cannot cover their operational costs,
\nthey would become bankrupt, which would, in turn, make people
\nsuffer as they would face difficulty in finding public
\ntransportation,\" Koeswadi.<\/p>\n
He refused to comment on the figures of the fare increase,
\nsaying that they would be discussed along with other councillors.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/27-percent-bus-fare-increase-proposed-1447893297",
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