Jakarta's parking stuck in first gear<\/p>\n
The decades-old problem of parking mismanagement in Jakarta
\nremains unresolved while, for some companies, parking is becoming
\nan increasingly lucrative business. The Jakarta Post reporters K.
\nBasrie, Ivy Susanti, Imanuddin, Emmy Fitri, Riyadi and Yogita
\nTahil Ramani and photographer Bayu Ismoyo look into the issue.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The consequences of poor parking management are
\nconspicuous across the capital: stationary vehicles litter narrow
\nalleys, sidewalks and numerous other forbidden locations.<\/p>\n
In some places, the dearth of legal parking spaces has a
\nknock-on effect for the city's general traffic problems as parked
\nvehicles occupy half of many roads, triggering gridlock.<\/p>\n
In terms of financial management, the city's Parking
\nManagement Agency (BP Parkir), which operates and controls the
\ncity's parking system, has long been sneered at as inefficient.
\nCritics attribute its low income to the notorious "leakages" by
\ncorrupt officials at all levels.<\/p>\n
The highest contributors to the city's parking revenue are
\nprivate sources, including hotels and office buildings licensed
\nto organize parking services in and around their premises.<\/p>\n
Some 71,200 of the authorized 85,770 parking spaces are
\ncurrently controlled by these license holders.<\/p>\n
A recent investigation by the Jakarta Legislative Council
\nfound that the city loses at least Rp 4.8 billion (US$640,000) in
\npotential parking revenue each month due to the critical shortage
\nof authorized parking areas.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, an annual report of the city's parking management
\nagency showed that it collected only Rp 14 billion of the
\ntargeted Rp 25 billion in the 1997\/1998 fiscal year that ended in
\nMarch.<\/p>\n
The Council's investigation also revealed that the funds ended
\nup in the pockets of illegal parking attendants because of the
\nadministration's inability to provide sufficient parking spaces.<\/p>\n
Official statistics show there are at least 1.3 million
\nprivate vehicles in the city chasing the 85,770 authorized
\nparking spaces.<\/p>\n
According to the statistics, at least 25 percent of the
\nvehicles are unable to find authorized spaces and are parked in
\nillegal on-street parking areas usually controlled by hoodlums.<\/p>\n
However, the city's parking management agency is not the sole
\nparty to blame for the mess.<\/p>\n
Media reports have repeatedly alleged that some parking permit
\nholders failed to pass on the money they make funds to BP Parkir.<\/p>\n
Tini Hadad, chairwoman of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation
\n(YLKI), told The Jakarta Post that leakages occurred from the
\nmoment the money was collected from the drivers.<\/p>\n
She blamed the leakages on the city administration's failure
\nto provide proper salaries for the parking attendants, who stand
\nat the front-line of the parking business.<\/p>\n
"As far as I know, parking attendants do not get salaries from
\nthe agency. Their jobs start immediately after they are given
\ntheir uniforms," she said.<\/p>\n
It is believed that many attendants embezzle a significant
\nproportion of the money they collect.<\/p>\n
"That's one of the reasons why leakages occur from the first
\ntime the money changes hands," she noted.<\/p>\n
Tini suggested that the city administration reorient its
\nparking management concept.<\/p>\n
"The Jakarta Administration should start considering the
\nparking business as one of its sources of income while at the
\nsame time part of the government's services to the people.<\/p>\n
"The Jakarta Parking Agency should first improve the skills
\nand professionalism of its employees and its service to the
\npublic before demanding high fees from the people," she said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless some city administration officials have made lots
\nof effort to meet people's demand for a comfortable and secure
\nparking system.<\/p>\n
For people seeking comfort, numerous hotels, buildings and
\noffices provide valet parking services, while for those seeking
\nsecurity and safety for their vehicles, including their
\nbelongings inside, there is Secure Parking operated by an
\ninternational company.<\/p>\n
The city currently sets car parking fees at Rp 500 for the
\nfirst hour. The hourly rate thereafter is set by the parking
\nmanagement agency under the governor's approval.<\/p>\n
To improve the service, Tini suggested that parking operators
\nincluding private ones should accommodate tenants' claims of
\ndamages or stolen vehicles.<\/p>\n
"People have often complained about damage to or loss of their
\nvehicles parked in certain parking lots," she said. "But their
\ncomplaints go unheeded, let alone getting the parking operator to
\nprovide compensation."<\/p>\n
Tini offered a solution: parking fees exceeding Rp 2,000
\nshould include insurance cover for the ticket holder.<\/p>\n
In response to calls for security and safety, dozens of
\nprivate companies have offered a joint venture parking management
\nsystem in conjunction with the municipality.<\/p>\n
The proposals for the privatization of the parking
\nadministration include developing a computerized ticketing system
\nto prevent manipulation and providing reasonable wages for
\nparking attendants so they won't resort to corruption to survive.<\/p>\n
The deal might also include compensation to cover the cost of
\nstolen or damaged vehicles at parking lots if owners reported the
\nincident within 48 hours. However, personal belongings and car
\naccessories, like stereos, would not be covered.<\/p>\n
A proposal by the parking agency to have a city regulation
\nallowing them to collect parking fees from private companies has
\nreceived strong opposition from the private sector.<\/p>\n
Stefanus Ridwan, general manager of PT Pakuwon Subentra
\nAnggraini which manages the Plaza Blok M shopping center in South
\nJakarta, said the idea had been strongly rejected by many
\nbusinesspeople, including local associations of real estate
\ndevelopers, shopping center management firms, hoteliers,
\nrestaurant owners, property owners and retailers.<\/p>\n
"We no longer want to deal with them following the enactment
\nof Law No.18\/1997 which ended the city administration's right to
\ncollect certain taxes and levies including parking fees,"
\nStefanus, an executive of the Indonesian Shopping Center
\nManagement Association, said.<\/p>\n
"It's better for us to manage the parking ourselves and ask
\nanother company, such as Secure Parking, to handle it," he added.<\/p>\n
In the past, the city's agency collected at least 25 percent
\nin retribution fees from the parking site owners, who also have
\nto pay a 10 percent tax to the government, Stefanus said.<\/p>\n
"It's okay if the agency wants to offer its services but
\nplease don't force us to use it. Let's make the choice. There's
\nno place for monopolies anymore in this country," Stefanus said.
\n(team)<\/p>",
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