Bus owners pledge improved service in line with fare hike<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While insisting that their proposal for a bus
\nfare increase be accommodated, the Jakarta chapter of the Land
\nTransportation Owners Association (Organda) vowed on Saturday to
\nimprove service for city residents in return for the hike.<\/p>\n
\"We can provide new buses every seven years if our proposal is
\nendorsed, and new buses will provide more comfort for
\npassengers,\" chairman of Organda's Jakarta chapter Aip
\nSyarifuddin said in a media conference at his office on Jl. Kyai
\nMaja in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We will also be able to pay our drivers and their assistants
\nthrough a monthly salary payment system, instead of imposing a
\ndaily target on them,\" he added, citing the current payment
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
The condition of public transportation has been criticized for
\na long time, especially by residents.<\/p>\n
Lack of financial sources have forced the owners to
\n\"cannibalize\" their buses since the beginning of the monetary
\ncrisis in mid-1997 because of the skyrocketing prices of spare
\nparts.<\/p>\n
Most city buses are currently in bad condition. Only 60
\npercent are operational, while the rest are grounded and their
\nparts have used to repair and maintain those buses still running.<\/p>\n
The target system has also forced drivers to meet a projected
\ndaily quota, and they thus pay less attention to the safety of
\npassengers.<\/p>\n
\"Our load factor is more than 140 percent, while it should be
\nonly 90 percent in order to provide better services to
\npassengers,\" Aip said recently.<\/p>\n
Organda's proposal was based on operational cost components
\nfor maintenance and spare parts, overheads, and fuel consumption.
\nThe new fare will be established through a formula that will
\ninclude bus operational costs with a 10 percent additional
\nmargin.<\/p>\n
The agency proposed that regular bus fare should be Rp 1,000
\n(13 U.S. cents) from Rp 300, minibuses Rp 1,200 from Rp 500,
\nPatas buses Rp 1,550 from Rp 700, and Patas AC buses Rp 3,250
\nfrom Rp 2,300.<\/p>\n
\"It's also important to hike the student fare from Rp 100 to
\nRp 500. The student fare hasn't been increased since 1989,\" added
\nAip.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the fuel subsidy, Aip suggested the government
\nshould transfer the subsidy directly to owners bank accounts
\nrather than using fuel coupons.<\/p>\n
\"The fuel subsidy only covers 2 percent of our operational
\ncosts. The majority of our costs are generated by maintenance and
\nspare parts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also stated that Organda members would go on strike on
\nApril 10 unless their demands were met.<\/p>\n
\"We are not threatening the government, for we have given them
\nmore than enough time to consider our proposal,\" he said. (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bus-owners-pledge-improved-service-in-line-with-fare-hike-1447893297",
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