Bus fares to double beginning next week<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration plans to raise bus fares
\nby as much as 100 percent beginning next week following the
\napproval of all related organizations, an official said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
The fare for regular buses will be doubled from Rp 300 (four
\nUS cents) to Rp 600, the fare for non-air-conditioned express
\nbuses and limited (PATAS) buses will rise from Rp 700 to Rp 900
\nand the fare for minibuses will go up to Rp 700 from Rp 500.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Development Affairs Budihardjo Sukmadi
\nsaid the plan had been agreed upon following a series of four
\nmeetings with executives from the Indonesian Consumers Foundation
\n(YLKI), the Association of Land Transportation Owners (Organda)
\nand the city land transportation agency.<\/p>\n
"The hikes were agreed to by all parties involved in
\ndeliberations on the fare increases. What is left now is to get
\nthe governor's permission," he said, hoping the new fares could
\nbe put into effect next week after Governor Sutiyoso issued a
\ngubernatorial decree approving the fare hikes.<\/p>\n
Budihardjo said fares for mikrolet (minivan) and air-
\nconditioned PATAS buses had not yet been determined.<\/p>\n
"We haven't finished calculating the fares for the mikrolet.
\nWe'll issue a regulation determining new mikrolet fares based on
\nthe distance traveled," he said.<\/p>\n
Organda usually sets the fare for air-conditioned PATAS buses.<\/p>\n
According to Budihardjo, the last meeting held to discuss the
\nfare hikes took place between the city administration and the
\nrelated organizations on July 5.<\/p>\n
The planned fare hikes far fall below the increases proposed
\nby Organda, which wanted the fare for regular buses set at Rp 900
\nand non-air-conditioned PATAS buses at Rp 1,668.<\/p>\n
Reports of the planned fare hikes became headline news last
\nmonth when the Ministry of Communications announced it planned to
\nincrease fares for regular buses to Rp 900, non-air-conditioned
\nPATAS buses to Rp 1,350, minibuses to Rp 1,150 and mikrolet to Rp
\n1,350.<\/p>\n
Budihardjo said Organda should accept the new fares, even
\nthough they were below its expectations.<\/p>\n
"We couldn't follow their proposal because it was too high,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
YLKI<\/p>\n
Contacted separately, YLKI vice chairman Agus Pambagio said
\nthe consumers organization had not agreed to the new fares.<\/p>\n
"No, there hasn't been any agreement on the amount of the new
\nfares, we're still calculating," Agus said.<\/p>\n
He said the parties involved in discussions on the hikes were
\nstill calculating the fares in an attempt to minimize the
\npeople's burden, while still helping the transportation industry.<\/p>\n
"We don't agree that the administration should increase fares
\nwithout first solving the problems of public transportation," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Agus said Organda members had convinced the administration it
\ncould improve its service if the fare of its regular buses was
\nset at the "ideal" price of Rp 900 per passenger.<\/p>\n
"Let's say we all agreed with Organda's proposal; we should
\nfind another way to help lift the people's burden, such as
\ncutting illegal levies, which are rampant in the public
\ntransportation sector," he said.<\/p>\n
The planned fare hike immediately sparked anger among many
\nJakartans, including bus drivers.<\/p>\n
"This proposal is not in line with the interests of bus
\ndrivers, because a hike in bus fares also means a significant
\nincrease in the uang setoran (rental fees paid to bus owners) and
\nillegal levies," drivers grouped in the Indonesian Transportation
\nWorker's Union said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Citra taxi driver Salamun agreed, saying the bus fare hike
\nwould force him to spend more money on transportation for his two
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
"My income will be used up just for my family's transportation
\ncosts," the Tangerang resident, whose daily income is between Rp
\n25,000 and Rp 50,000, said.<\/p>\n
A number of bus drivers also expressed their anger over the
\nplan.<\/p>\n
"This is not the right time to raise fares, it's hard for
\neverybody. If bus fares go up, and the prices of gas and goods go
\nup... everybody's life will be harder," Manurung said.<\/p>\n
Sumadji, another bus driver, said: "People are still facing
\nhard times, so don't raise the fares until the General Assembly
\n(of the People's Consultative Assembly)."<\/p>\n
Yono, a mikrolet driver, said: "If the fares go up, then the
\nhoodlums will ask for more money."<\/p>\n
Wati and Dasril, regular bus passengers, expressed their
\nobjections to the plan.<\/p>\n
"Our salaries are staying the same," Wati said.<\/p>\n
However, Irvan, a mikrolet driver, said: "I'm glad the
\ngovernment wants to raise fares as long as the price of gas
\ndoesn't follow the same path.".(ind\/04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bus-fares-to-double-beginning-next-week-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}