Stop issuing new bus route permits: Organda<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Organization of Land Transportation Owners'
\n(Organda) city branch yesterday urged the municipality to stop
\nissuing new routes for buses until a feasibility survey has been
\ncompleted.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a meeting with the City Council's Commission D for
\ndevelopment affairs, Organda's chairman Aip Syariffuddin said
\ndisregard for the survey could trigger more driver protests.<\/p>\n
"The city should not issue new routes, or even permits, to new
\nbuses because it will cause further overlapping on existing
\nroutes," Aip told the meeting.<\/p>\n
The city's leniency in issuing permits would prompt owners to
\nexploit "every possible way" of obtaining the lucrative routes,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
"The leniency will lead to collusion between owners and
\nofficials."<\/p>\n
The City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) is in the process
\nof surveying the existing bus routes with the help of the Bandung
\nInstitute of Technology. Organda has also had some input.<\/p>\n
The chairman of Commission D for development affairs,
\nCouncilor Ali Wongso H. Sinaga, praised the administration for
\ninvolving Organda in the survey.<\/p>\n
"The survey should be based on the need to increase services
\nfor people and not create more, or new, problems," Ali said.<\/p>\n
Future problems could be avoided if there was strong
\ncoordination between bus owners and officials, he said.<\/p>\n
"Good coordination can prevent further driver strikes."<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, about 100 drivers of the S604 Metromini
\n(medium-size) buses plying the Pasar Minggu-Tanah Abang route
\nstaged a protest outside City Council.<\/p>\n
Drivers of the Rp 400 (13 US cents) Metromini buses blamed the
\npresence of Rp 300 regular buses on the same route for causing a
\ndecrease of up to 80 percent in their income.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Aip also asked councilors to support the
\norganization's call for a reduction in loan interest as part of
\nthe government's assistance plan for public transportation
\nproviders.<\/p>\n
"The reduction will help the owners cover their operational
\ncosts."<\/p>\n
Public transportation operators have to pay loan interest of
\nbetween 30 percent and 36 percent, the same as owners of private
\nvehicles, he said.<\/p>\n
"We believe the loan interest can be reduced to 18 percent or
\n20 percent."<\/p>\n
Aip urged the government to offer soft loans to bus owners and
\nreduce taxes.<\/p>\n
"Even those who buy minivans must pay a luxury tax," he said.<\/p>\n
He admitted that public minivan owners could apply for a tax
\nreduction but "it would cost them time, money and more cash in
\nthe form of illegal levies".<\/p>\n
Councilor Lukman F. Mokoginta from the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) faction said that Organda's request was reasonable as
\nlong as it offered compensation, in the form of professional
\nservices, to people.<\/p>\n
"Without better services the request is not acceptable,"
\nLukman said. (ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stop-issuing-new-bus-route-permits-organda-1447893297",
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