Aircon bus operators warned over fare hike<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso proposed on Friday to
\nestablish a city-owned company to operate air-conditioned buses
\nin order to better serve the commuters.<\/p>\n
The bus operator will be a subsidiary of PT Jakarta
\nPropertindo, a city-owned company that manages the Jakarta Outer
\nRing Road. It is expected to be established soon, according to
\nthe governor, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said that the administration chose PT Jakarta
\nPropertindo to manage the city-owned bus operator due to its
\nsuccess in inviting a number of private investors to join the
\nJORR project.<\/p>\n
The new bus operator would complement the city-owned PPD, a
\ncompany which operates regular buses.<\/p>\n
He considered it important for the city administration to have
\nits own AC bus operator, since some private bus operators always
\nthreatened to halt their services should problems occur.<\/p>\n
The governor had earlier warned bus operators not to hike the
\nfares for air-conditioned buses, pending the city
\nadministration's approval of the increase.<\/p>\n
He also called upon the City Land Transportation Agency
\n(DLLAJ), which is responsible for regulating bus operators, to
\ntake action against those who ignored the warning.<\/p>\n
Some air-conditioned bus operators have reportedly raised
\ntheir fares to between Rp 3,000 and Rp 3,200 from the previous Rp
\n2,500, even though the Jakarta government has yet to made a final
\ndecision on the size of the hike.<\/p>\n
The governor said the Organization of Land Transportation
\nOwners (Organda) had yet to formally propose the fare hike.<\/p>\n
"People should refuse to pay more than the usual fare if bus
\noperators continue to charge extra," Sutiyoso said.<\/p>\n
However, he admitted that he would not cancel the licenses of
\ndelinquent bus operators.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso argued that if the administration canceled any
\nlicenses, there would be a shortage of public buses in the city,
\nwhich in the end would prejudice commuters.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the head of the DLLAJ, Rustam Effendy, denied that
\nhis office had failed to prosecute operators who had hiked fares
\nprematurely.<\/p>\n
"The DLLAJ often warns bus operators which break the rules,
\nincluding raising fares without the administration's approval,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Commuters have objected to the fare hike, which they consider
\ntoo hefty, especially as the hike has not been accompanied by
\nimprovements in service. (04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aircon-bus-operators-warned-over-fare-hike-1447893297",
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