Lower import tariff asked for Chinese buses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will ask that the import
\ntariff on buses purchased from China be reduced in order to make
\nthe buses affordable to transportation operators.<\/p>\n
A city official unveiled the proposal on Thursday. \"Currently
\nthe import tariff for commercial passenger vehicles is 40
\npercent .... We proposed to the Ministry of Finance that it
\nreduce (this tariff) to 10 percent.<\/p>\n
\"If the ministry approves our request, it will help bus
\noperators acquire the buses,\" Buyung Atang, the head of the City
\nTraffic and Land Transportation Agency, said at the City Council
\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
The administration revealed in May a Rp 1.5-trillion (US$183
\nmillion) plan to replace city buses within three years. Governor
\nSutiyoso hinted on Wednesday the bus procurement would be
\nfinanced through a soft loan provided by a Chinese banking
\nconsortium.<\/p>\n
Buyung said private Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) would
\nact as a coordinator for the Chinese consortium. \"The bus
\noperators can apply for the loan through BII. The city
\nadministration will not be directly involved in the scheme. We
\nare only facilitating the scheme.<\/p>\n
\"One thing is sure, the operators cannot ask for a fare hike
\nonce they receive the new buses financed by the soft loan. They
\nmust charge passengers the current fares,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said his agency would intensify its supervision to
\nensure aging buses were removed from the streets once the new
\nbuses arrived.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Governor Sutiyoso reiterated his pledge to provide
\ncheap and reliable public transportation for Jakartans,
\nespecially those in the lower income brackets.<\/p>\n
\"We need 3,000 buses, which will come in three phases of 1,000
\nbuses each. We expect the new buses can start operating as soon
\nas December,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The new vehicles will cost Rp 250 million for regular buses
\nand Rp 160 million for minibuses. These new buses also are more
\nenvironmentally friendly than the old ones because they run on
\nliquefied gas rather than regular gasoline or diesel fuel.<\/p>\n
Public buses in the city are known for their poor service,
\nhigh fuel emissions and dilapidated condition.<\/p>\n
City records show some 1,420 buses have been in operation for
\nmore than 20 years; 1,860 buses between 15 and 20 years; 4,000
\nbuses between 10 and 15 years; 7,890 between five and 10 years;
\nand 7,000 buses have been on the streets for fewer than five
\nyears. (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lower-import-tariff-asked-for-chinese-buses-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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