Toll roads remain congested<\/p>\n
Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Erry Harijanto, 27, admitted on Wednesday that he was only made
\naware of the increase in toll road charges in the Jakarta inner-
\nring road from a newspaper this morning.<\/p>\n
\"I do not see any improvement in toll road services this
\nevening as the road is still heavily congested, especially in the
\nCawang area,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"But I also did not expect any improvement on the part of toll
\noperators as I know that they are simply unprofessional,\" added
\nErry, a resident of Kemanggisan, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The government raised toll road charges by 25 percent on
\naverage across Indonesia starting at midnight on Tuesday, despite
\ncriticism of the operators' commitment to improving their
\nservices and internal management.<\/p>\n
The charges for sedans and other light vehicles in the Jakarta
\ninner-ring road -- well-known for its massive jams during rush
\nhours -- rose to Rp 4,000 from a previous Rp 3,000. Public buses
\nwill not have to pay the increase.<\/p>\n
Public criticism centered on the lack of efforts by both the
\ngovernment and the operators to explain the hike.<\/p>\n
\"I do not understand why we have to help finance toll road
\nnetworks as we do not get any benefit in return, such as a system
\nto reduce traffic congestion,\" said Vivian Idris, a film
\npublicist who uses toll roads daily.<\/p>\n
\"I honestly question why the toll road management cannot find
\ntheir own funding sources to develop more projects,\" she added.<\/p>\n
The authorities said the increase was to cover the financing
\nof new toll roads.<\/p>\n
Critics and consumers said the increases were unacceptable as
\nthe toll operators, led by state-owned PT Jasa Marga, failed to
\nprovide a free ride to commuters trapped in traffic jams.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) demanded on
\nWednesday that the increase be canceled until the operators
\nimproved services and addressed irregularities.<\/p>\n
\"We just want to avoid the situation where the public is
\nactually financing Jasa Marga's debt payment programs,\" YLHI said
\nin a statement.<\/p>\n
It said the increases violated Law No. 13\/1980 on highways,
\nwhich stipulated that toll charges had to be based on the
\nbenefits a customer receives, not on the cost of another
\ninvestment or on losses that needed to be covered.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, the increase is invalid as the consumers' rights
\nare not protected,\" the foundation said.<\/p>\n
A financial report revealed that the company had losses of up
\nto Rp 7.55 trillion, half of which were caused by internal
\nmismanagement. The report was made by public accountant office
\nHadi Susanto and Partners and PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC), based
\non Jasa Marga's activities between January 1995 and December
\n1999.<\/p>\n
However, according to Jasa Marga's financial report, which was
\naudited by the public accountant office of Amir Yusuf and Aryanto
\nYusuf, the company managed to gain profits of Rp 157 billion in
\n2001 and Rp 148 billion in 2002.<\/p>\n
The hike announced by Minister of Settlements and Regional
\nInfrastructure Soenarno at his office had been approved by the
\nHouse of Representatives.<\/p>\n
A presidential decree was issued before the toll hike took
\neffect.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/toll-roads-remain-congested-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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