Operators up parking fees without approval<\/p>\n
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A number of private parking operators in Jakarta increased
\ntheir parking rates at some sites by up to 100 percent on Monday,
\nwithout the approval of either the city administration or
\ncouncil.<\/p>\n
Councillors and city officials said on Tuesday that the
\nincrease was illegal because it had not been officially approved.<\/p>\n
Jonner Napitupulu, the general manager of building operations
\nat Plaza Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post that the decision to
\nincrease rates was taken because the city imposed a 20 percent
\ntax on off-street parking, effective as of Monday.<\/p>\n
He said that in recent years the management had to reduce the
\nparking operations deficit, which amounted to Rp 1 billion
\n(approximately US$120,500) each year, out of its own operations
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
The deficit, he said, occurred due to utility price hikes over
\nthe years, and because the city administration had fixed the
\nrates at no more than Rp 1,000 per hour.<\/p>\n
\"To take the 20 percent tax out of the Rp 1,000 is out of the
\nquestion, therefore we have no choice but to increase the rates,\"
\nhe said, adding the increase was a joint decision between the
\nmanagement and the building's parking operator, PT Secure
\nParking.<\/p>\n
According to Bylaw No.6\/2002, the tax should be paid by
\nmotorists, and operators must therefore charge motorists an extra
\nRp 200, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Charging motorists Rp 1,200 per hour will slow down our
\nservice because we have to provide small change, which definitely
\nwill cause congestion at our exit gateway. Therefore, we are
\nrounding off the figures to Rp 1,500 for the sake of
\npracticality,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Most motorists complained about the increases, saying the
\nrates were too high and not on a par with the service given.<\/p>\n
\"I have to pay more, but it is still difficult to find a
\nparking space and there is no guarantee that something will not
\nhappen to my car,\" said Felicia, an executive at a multinational
\ncompany, as she parked her car at Plaza Indonesia on Monday
\nevening.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) spokesman Daryatmo told
\nthe Post that increasing the parking rates should be followed by
\nproviding a better service to consumers.<\/p>\n
The administration must make it official that operators should
\nbe responsible for anything that happens to a car in their area,
\nhe said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/operators-up-parking-fees-without-approval-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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