Jasa Marga proposes 30% toll fee hike<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga has proposed an
\nincrease in tolls of an average of 30 percent for all toll roads
\nso as to attract new investors for future toll road projects, a
\nsenior executive said.<\/p>\n
Jasa Marga's president Syarifuddin Alambai said on Wednesday
\nthat the company had presented the proposal to the Ministry of
\nResettlement and Regional Infrastructure last month, and it would
\nbe forwarded to President Megawati Soekarnoputri in one or two
\ndays.<\/p>\n
\"From there the government will take the proposal to the House
\nof Representatives. We hope a decision can be reached by
\nJanuary,\" he said during a media conference here.<\/p>\n
Syarifuddin said that routes that currently only charged Rp
\n500 (about US$0.048) would have their tolls doubled to Rp 1,000,
\nwhile others would not be increased by as much.<\/p>\n
Jasa Marga's director of development and commerce Frans S.
\nSunito said that if the House agreed, the toll hike would be the
\nfirst increase since 1992.<\/p>\n
\"Until now Jasa Marga has managed to avoid operating at a
\nloss, but if tolls are not increased, then in another two or
\nthree years, Jasa Marga will certainly be unprofitable,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Syarifuddin said that although the company had always recorded
\na profit, it had been declining since 1997 when the company
\nbrought in a record Rp 272.4 billion in net earnings.<\/p>\n
The economic crisis in 1998 had cut profits to Rp 165.75
\nbillion, and this figure declined further to a low of Rp 149.2
\nbillion last year.<\/p>\n
\"We predict that we will book a profit of Rp 150.3 billion
\nthis year, and with an increase in tolls next year, we'll be able
\nto steadily increase our profits,\" Syarifuddin said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jasa-marga-proposes-30-toll-fee-hike-1447893297",
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