Government told to delay toll increases<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City councilors suggested on Saturday the
\ncentral government postpone its plan to raise toll road tariffs
\nuntil next year, in the hope that by then the country's economy
\nwould have improved.<\/p>\n
Interviewed separately, the councilors also accessed toll road
\noperators of having hidden agendas.<\/p>\n
They reminded both the operators and the government not to use
\ntoll roads purely to seek profit for their own interests and in
\nthe process neglect residents' rights.<\/p>\n
Councilor Tjuk Sudono of the National Mandate Party (PAN)
\nstrongly suggested the government delay its plan.<\/p>\n
\"Let's wait until next year. I hope the economy will grow next
\nyear,\" he said over the phone.<\/p>\n
He said that, in the meantime, people are already burdened by
\nreal economic hardships.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the government has recently decided to hike fuel
\nprices and electricity tariffs, Tjuk added.<\/p>\n
He said the proposed hike would be acceptable only in extreme
\ncircumstances.<\/p>\n
He therefore suggested that toll road operators only raise
\ntariffs for vehicles carrying certain commercial goods, such as
\ncigarettes.<\/p>\n
\"But it would be much better if the operators could first
\nimprove their performances before asking for tariff hikes,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"Have the operators paid enough attention to motorists using
\nthe toll roads?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
Councilor Posman Siahaan of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP)
\nsupported Tjuk's statements.<\/p>\n
\"We understand the operators need funds for maintenance works.
\nBut the problem is whether they have allocated their profits to
\nthe right place or not,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"What have the operators done to improve the convenience,
\nsafety and security of toll road users?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
He also pointed to the growing number of armed robberies on
\ntoll roads.<\/p>\n
The State Ministry of Public Works announced on Feb. 16 a
\nplanned 25 percent increase in toll road tariffs on seven toll
\nroads across the country due to increases in maintenance costs.<\/p>\n
It said tariffs on these seven roads had not been increased
\nfor eight years. The proposal is still waiting for the approval
\nof legislators.<\/p>\n
The increases are set to take effect on the Jagorawi, Jakarta-
\nCikampek and Jakarta-Tangerang toll road; West Java's Tangerang-
\nMerak and Padalarang-Cileunyi toll roads; East Java's Surabaya-
\nGempol toll road; and the Belawan-Medan-Tanjung Morawa toll road
\nin North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The first four toll roads mentioned above are used by large
\nnumbers of Jakartans each day.<\/p>\n
The councilors said the proposal might be a trick to cheat
\nregional administrations prior to the full enactment of two laws
\non regional autonomy: Law No. 22\/1999 on regional autonomy and
\nLaw No. 25\/1999 on intergovernmental financial balance.<\/p>\n
\"All this time, toll road operators have had to discuss hikes
\nwith one party only: the central government. But if the laws on
\nregional autonomy are fully enacted, they will have to discuss
\nthem with regional administrations too,\" Tjuk said.<\/p>\n
Posman said under the regional autonomy laws, central
\ngovernment would no longer be able to decide such important
\nissues without the consent of regional administrations.<\/p>\n
\"At the very least, the central government will have to listen
\nto the regional administrations, who know the conditions in their
\nregions much better,\" he said. (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-told-to-delay-toll-increases-1447893297",
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