DPR, govt approve 12% bus fare rise<\/p>\n
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Legislators and the government agreed on Wednesday to a 12
\npercent increase in intercity bus fares during the Idul Fitri,
\nChristmas and New Year holidays.<\/p>\n
The 12 percent hike is less than the government's proposal of
\n20 percent and much lower than last year's increase of 25
\npercent.<\/p>\n
\"It is a final decision to provide better services to the
\npublic,\" Soemaryoto, chairman of House of Representatives
\nCommission IV for transportation and telecommunications, said.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a hearing with Director General of Land
\nTransportation Sumaryono Soesilo, Soemaryoto said that the fare
\nincrease would be effective nationwide a week before and 10 days
\nafter Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Soemaryoto said the fact that intercity bus fares were
\nincreased 20.5 percent in July had been taken into consideration
\nwhen deciding to temporarily raise fares by 12 percent.<\/p>\n
July's increase was to compensate for fuel price increases.<\/p>\n
The temporary increase in intercity bus fares is designed to
\ncompensate for the empty seats on the return trips from each
\ndestination to Jakarta and other major cities.<\/p>\n
It would be too much to increase the fares by another 20
\npercent, he said.<\/p>\n
Sumaryono said that the government accepted the decision even
\nthough he expressed concern that it might discourage bus
\noperators from improving their services.<\/p>\n
\"We fully understand that this is a final decision, but we
\nfear that it will not encourage bus operators to improve their
\nservices,\" he said, adding that the proposed 20 percent increase
\nhad been agreed upon jointly with Organization of Land
\nTransportation Owners (Organda) earlier.<\/p>\n
The commission urged the government to act firmly against any
\nbus operators who violate ruling.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the government will be firm on this fare increase.
\nJust revoke their (bus operators) licenses if they violate the
\nruling,\" Soemaryoto remarked.<\/p>\n
He further urged bus operators to abide by the decision and
\nprovide improved services for passengers.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Transportation estimates that around 16
\nmillion people will be traveling home from various destinations
\nduring the holiday period. About 65 percent of them will use
\nbuses as their mode of transportation.<\/p>\n
The government will provide 27,783 buses in 28 bus terminals
\nacross the country. An additional 1,976 buses will stand by to
\nmeet excess demand.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, major state-run transportation companies revealed
\nthat they anticipate a jump in the number of passengers during
\nthe holidays.<\/p>\n
Bachrul Hakim, business director of national flag carrier
\nGaruda, said the company would increase its capacity by up to
\n36,507 from 29,626 seats without changing air fares.<\/p>\n
Badar Zaini, general manager of railway company PT KAI, said
\nthat the number of train passengers was expected to increase 7
\npercent from 3.2 million last year to 3.4 million.<\/p>\n
PT KAI will increase its capacity by up to 23 percent from
\n115,000 seats per day to 140,004 per day.<\/p>\n
Isnoor Hariyanto, general manager of ship company PT Pelni,
\nsaid that his company had 29 ships to transport passengers across
\nthe archipelago.<\/p>\n
\"By Dec. 1, all the ships will be in full operation,\" Isnoor
\nsaid, adding that Pelni would also get seven additional ships
\nfrom the Navy.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dpr-govt-approve-12-bus-fare-rise-1447893297",
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