House okays 25% fare hike during Idul Fitri exodus<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The traditional 25 percent increase in bus fares
\nduring the post-fasting Idul Fitri holiday exodus will be
\nmaintained, the House of Representatives announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"We decided the 25 percent fare hike is the best for all,\"
\nspokesman for the House Commission IV for transportation affairs
\nAhmad Muqouwam said.<\/p>\n
The decision was reached in a meeting between the commission,
\nthe transportation minister Agum Gumelar and the Association of
\nPublic Land Transportation Owners (Organda) at the House.<\/p>\n
The government and Organda had both demanded between a 35
\npercent and 50 percent increase, citing higher operational costs
\nincurred over the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Muqouwam, from the United Development Party, said the House
\ncould not agree to an extra increase because an estimated 80
\npercent of passengers who are going home for the holiday are
\nclassified as poor.<\/p>\n
\"We reject a more than 25 percent increase for fear of public
\ndisorder, which will affect the stability of the new government,\"
\nMuquowam said.<\/p>\n
To compensate Organda for any losses, the House pledged to
\nhelp the organization obtain a government subsidy on lower taxes
\nfor bus spare parts.<\/p>\n
The fare increase will take effect one week before and after
\nIdul Fitri, which is expected to fall on Jan. 8.<\/p>\n
The House urged transportation companies to improve their
\nservices during the holiday exodus and would tolerate only 10
\npercent more passengers more than the official capacity in any
\nbus.<\/p>\n
Chief of Organda's Jakarta branch Aip Syarifuddin said after
\nthe meeting the organization would comply with the agreement.<\/p>\n
The association had repeatedly asked the government to
\nincrease bus fare by 50 percent to cover the skyrocketing prices
\nof spare parts resulted from the prolonged crisis.<\/p>\n
In the holiday season, fare increases are regularly applied
\nsince most of the buses return to Jakarta with empty seats.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the ministry's Director General of Land
\nTransportation Santo Budiono said only 79 percent of the 22,000
\nbuses ready to transport holiday revelers met the minimum safety
\nstandards. \"The rest need repairing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He estimated the number of nationwide holiday makers at
\nbetween 9 million to 10 million. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-okays-25-fare-hike-during-idul-fitri-exodus-1447893297",
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