Sutiyoso finally announces bus fare increase<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After a week-long postponement, the city
\nadministration announced on Wednesday the new bus fares, which
\nrepresent an increase of between 28 percent and 50 percent over
\nthe old fares.<\/p>\n
The new fares, which took effect on Wednesday, are outlined in
\ngubernatorial decree No. 1923\/2001, which was signed by Governor
\nSutiyoso on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
According to the decree, the fare for regular buses has been
\nincreased from Rp 500 to Rp 700, the fare for medium-sized and
\nlimited-seat buses has been raised from Rp 700 to Rp 900 and the
\nstudent fare has gone up from Rp 200 to Rp 300.<\/p>\n
The fare for air-conditioned buses was not covered by the
\ndecree. Bus operators will be allowed to set the fares for air-
\nconditioned buses, after receiving the approval of the City
\nCouncil.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso said the decision was made based on the
\nconsideration that the central government would not disburse a
\nsubsidy it had promised for bus operators following an increase
\nin fuel prices.<\/p>\n
\"We are sure that the central government will not provide a
\nsubsidy. So this is our final decision,\" Sutiyoso said at City
\nHall.<\/p>\n
In the decree, Sutiyoso urged bus operators to modernize their
\nfleets within two years as well as improve their service.<\/p>\n
There are about 20,000 buses registered in the city, owned by
\n14 bus companies. However, only 7,000 buses currently operate on
\nthe streets, and many of these buses are old.<\/p>\n
Almost all bus operators reportedly increased their fares on
\nWednesday, although Sutiyoso had yet to officially announce the
\ndecree.<\/p>\n
Passengers were forced to pay the new fares when bus
\nconductors showed them newspaper reports about the fare
\nincreases.<\/p>\n
Alex, a bus passenger, became involved in a spat with the
\nconductor of a Metromini bus plying the Kampung Melayu-Klender
\nroute in East Jakarta. Alex was adamant about paying the old fare
\nof Rp 700, but the conductor demanded he pay the new fare of Rp
\n900.<\/p>\n
\"Didn't you read that the governor will increase the fares
\ntoday (Wednesday),\" the conductor said while showing Alex a
\nnewspaper.<\/p>\n
A City Council team consisting of the council's Commission D
\nfor development, the City Land Transportation Agency, the Jakarta
\nchapter of the Organization of Land Transportation Owners and the
\nIndonesia Transportation Workers Union, agreed on Wednesday to
\nrecommend fare increases similar to those contained in the
\ngubernatorial decree.<\/p>\n
Team chairman Sayogo Hendrosubroto said the fare increases
\nwere not only based on the recent fuel price hike, but also on
\nthe increase in the price of spare parts.<\/p>\n
Sayogo, a councillor from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), said the council also dismissed the
\npossibility of a subsidy from the government.<\/p>\n
Along with the announcement of the fuel price increase on June
\n15, the government promised to provide a Rp 216 billion subsidy
\nfor bus operators.<\/p>\n
The government reportedly canceled the subsidy for Jakarta
\nlast week because the city planned to increase bus fares. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-finally-announces-bus-fare-increase-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}