Bus fare hike proposal returned to governor<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The City Council returned on Monday a proposal to increase city
\nbus fares by an average of 27 percent to Governor Sutiyoso
\nbecause stakeholders were in hot dispute about the issue.<\/p>\n
The decision was made during a hearing at the City Council,
\nattended by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), the
\nOrganization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) and the City
\nLand Transportation Agency.<\/p>\n
City Council Deputy Speaker Tarmidi Suhardjo told those
\nattending the hearing that executives and other stakeholders
\nshould discuss the issue thoroughly before the proposal was again
\npresented to the City Council.<\/p>\n
Tarmidi stressed the need for the involvement of YLKI and
\nother relevant organizations in any discussion on fare increases.<\/p>\n
In his proposal to the City Council last week, Sutiyoso
\nsuggested increasing 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. Student fares will
\nremain at Rp 500.<\/p>\n
Both by Organda and YLKI objected to Sutiyoso's proposal.<\/p>\n
Organda chairman Aip Syaifuddin insisted on a 50 percent fare
\nincrease, saying that Organda's bus operators would go on strike
\nnext Monday if the proposal was rejected.<\/p>\n
He argued that current fares could no longer cover the
\noperational costs of public vehicles following the increase in
\nprices of fuel and spare parts.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile YLKI chairwoman Indah Suksmaningsih objected to
\nincreasing bus fares and said that bus operators should improve
\ntheir services before increasing fares.<\/p>\n
Indah said many drivers, particularly of medium sized-city
\nbuses, did not ply all of the routes they were on. For example,
\nhe said, nearly all buses leaving Tanah Abang, which should serve
\nthe Tanah Abang-Kampung Rambutan route, stop at Kampung Melayu
\ninstead of Kampung Rambutan.<\/p>\n
"We cannot accept the fare increase until their services are
\nreally improved," he said.<\/p>\n
During the hearing, Aip also revealed irregularities in the
\nCity Land Transportation Agency, which further burdened bus
\noperators.<\/p>\n
Aip said that various fees were collected by officials in the
\nagency when bus operators needed roadworthy tests done on their
\nbuses. He said bus operators could pay twice the official fee.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan
\nclaimed that officials at the City Land Transportation Agency
\nissued permits effortlessly for lucrative routes to bus operators
\nwho paid additional money.<\/p>\n
Tigor, who owns 12 medium-sized city buses, said fare
\nincreases would not be necessary if illegal fees at the City Land
\nTransportation Agency could be eliminated.<\/p>\n
"Organda should not campaign to increase fares, it should
\ndemand the City Land Transportation Agency improve the
\ntransportation system," he said.<\/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 diesel fuel from Rp 1,550 per liter to Rp
\n1,890. The government later cut the diesel price to Rp 1,650.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bus-fare-hike-proposal-returned-to-governor-1447893297",
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