Land transport body disappointed by fare proposals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta chapter of land transportation
\nowners association, Organda, is disappointed by the government
\nproposal on the increase in public transportation fares.<\/p>\n
The head of the association, Aip Sjarifuddin, said yesterday
\nthat Organda appreciated the government's response to its outcry
\non the fares, but the new fares proposed by the Ministry of
\nTransportations are still too low. \"How can our members
\nrenew their fleets if their revenues from fares are too low ?\"<\/p>\n
Minister of Transportations Haryanto Dhanutirto in a hearing
\nwith the House of Representative on Thursday proposed the
\nincrease in public transportation fares.<\/p>\n
According to the proposal, the fares for regular buses will be
\nRp 300, or Rp 50 higher than the current fares, the Metro
\nMini\/Kopaja fares will be Rp 450, from the current Rp 300. The
\nfares on Patas buses are proposed to become Rp 650, from Rp 550,
\nwhile the taxi flag fall is proposed to increase to Rp 1,500 from
\nRp 900, and per kilometer charge will be Rp 500, Rp 50 higher
\nfrom the current charge.<\/p>\n
According to the proposal submitted to the government last
\nyear, Organda would like the fares of regular buses to be fixed
\nat Rp 750 (US 33 cents), those of Patas buses at Rp 900 and those
\nof air-conditioned buses at Rp 1,750 from Rp 1,300.<\/p>\n
\"We need to organize a new fare system,\" Aip said.<\/p>\n
The government plans to introduce the new fares either in
\nJanuary or in March next year. But Aip said; \"The sooner the
\nbetter.\"<\/p>\n
Recently, Aip said that it would be better for the
\ntransportation companies if the government were to arrange a
\nreduction of tax rates and import duties rather than increasing
\nthe transport fares.<\/p>\n
He said that the government could also arrange loans for small
\ncompanies, locally known as low-interest KUK, for Organda
\nmembers. Currently, most transportation companies buy vehicles
\nthrough loan facilities with a 30 percent interest rate, while
\nthe KUK scheme charges only 12 percent interest.<\/p>\n
Consumer<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Consumer Protection Foundation
\n(YLKI) said yesterday that the increase in public transportation
\nfares is understandable.<\/p>\n
The head of the foundation, Zumrotin K. Susilo, said that in
\nforming the new fares the government should make sure that the
\npublic can afford them.<\/p>\n
\"The government should consider the current minimum wages
\nbecause the majority of public transportation users is low class
\npeople,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She added that the increase in the fares should be based on
\nthe minimum wages.<\/p>\n
Zumrotin said the public transportation companies are obliged
\nto improve their services by providing the passengers with secure
\nand pleasant transportation.<\/p>\n
\"These are consumers' basic needs and the companies should be
\nproviding them whether the fares are increased or not,\" she
\nsaid.(yns\/10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/land-transport-body-disappointed-by-fare-proposals-1447893297",
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