Organda asks 50% fare hike during holiday exodus<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Public Land Transportation
\nOwners (Organda) has asked the city administration to lobby the
\ncentral government for a 50 percent increase in bus fares during
\nthe post-fasting month Idul Fitri celebrations, chairman Aip
\nSyarifuddin said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"Almost all of the buses returning to the city carry no
\npassengers during Idul Fitri,\" Aip told reporters on the
\nsidelines of an association meeting in Sunter subdistrict, North
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
He said the hoped-for fare increase was also aimed at covering
\nthe skyrocketing prices of bus spare parts and other operational
\ncosts due to the prolonged economic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"Organda will soon submit a proposal for a 50 percent hike to
\nthe House of Representatives, as any fare hikes must be endorsed
\nby the House,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar separately said on
\nWednesday that the government would recommend a 35 percent
\nincrease in bus fares.<\/p>\n
\"We'll submit the proposal to the House,\" Agum said in a media
\nconference.<\/p>\n
He concurred with bus owners that the fare hike was important
\nfor bus companies to cover their expenses, especially for spare
\nparts.<\/p>\n
Aip revealed that Organda had a limited number of buses
\noperational during the busiest days of the holiday: one week
\nbefore and after Idul Fitri, which is estimated to fall on Jan.
\n8.<\/p>\n
He said the association could only provide 2,600 buses for the
\ntwo-day Idul Fitri public holiday. Last Idul Fitri the
\nassociation provided about 4,700 buses.<\/p>\n
\"Many of our buses are now parked in garages, while others are
\nno longer road worthy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, head of the city land transportation agency (DLLAJ)
\nBuyung Atang said the city administration would provide 6,412
\nbuses for the Idul Fitri celebration.<\/p>\n
\"We will borrow buses from the Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nheadquarters during the peak season if necessary,\" Buyung said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Spokesman of the city military command Lt. Col. Djazairi
\nNachrowi said the city administration should file a request for
\nassistance to the command.<\/p>\n
\"We'll be ready to assist the city administration to provide
\npublic transportation for Idul Fitri.\"<\/p>\n
Nachrowi did not mention the number of vehicles which could be
\nprovided by the command, but said it would try to meet the
\nadministration's request.<\/p>\n
Increase<\/p>\n
Agum said the government estimated an increase of 6.5 percent
\nin the number of passengers around Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
\"There will be some 17,057,000 passengers, compared to last
\nyear's 16,075,538 passengers.\"<\/p>\n
He said about 15,938,000 passengers, or 93.44 percent of the
\ntotal number of passengers, would travel by buses and trains.<\/p>\n
He projected a fall in the number of air travelers. \"We
\nestimate a decrease of 1.5 percent or some 302,000 passengers.\"<\/p>\n
The minister also revealed there would be a discount in fares
\nfor ships and trains, ranging from 23 percent to 35 percent.<\/p>\n
He said the government would deploy 22,461 buses for Idul
\nFitri, an increase from 21,300 last year.<\/p>\n
\"For rail services, there will be 1,129 cars compared to 1,062
\nlast year,\" Agum said.<\/p>\n
\"We'll maintain the same number of 87 ferries to serve short-
\ndistance interisland voyages, but add the number of fast vessels
\nto nine from six last year.\"<\/p>\n
A similar increase is marked for long-distance sea voyages,
\nwith 548 ships prepared compared to 408 last year, he said.<\/p>\n
\"In air transportation, there will be 104 planes ready,
\ncompared to 93 last year.\"<\/p>\n
Agum said the Navy confirmed that it would deploy 16 Landing
\nShip Tanks (LST) to help accommodate passengers during the peak
\nperiod, but the Air Force was yet to reply on providing
\nassistance.<\/p>\n
In a related development, city administration spokesman
\nMuhayat announced on Wednesday that Governor Sutiyoso had issued
\na decree ordering all hotels allegedly frequented by prostitutes
\nand their clients, massage parlors and entertainment centers in
\nthe city to close on Dec. 8 and on Dec. 9, the day before and the
\nfirst day of the fasting month of Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
\"They will also be required to close on Christmas Day and Idul
\nFitri,\" Muhayat said. (jun\/asa\/05)<\/p>",
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