Transportation body wants 50% fare hike<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Public Transportation Owners
\n(Organda) city branch has urged the city to raise intercity bus
\nfares by 50 percent for the Idul Fitri holidays.<\/p>\n
The request was higher than the 25 percent increase set by the
\nMinistry of Transportation in December for 16 days before, during
\nand after Idul Fitri which is on Feb. 9 and 10.<\/p>\n
Organda chairman Aip Syarifuddin said yesterday a 50 percent
\nincrease was needed to stop public transport operators increasing
\nfares illegally.<\/p>\n
\"I guarantee if the administration agreed to raise fares by 50
\npercent, bus operators would not violate the regulation,\" Aip
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The increase would help guarantee passengers a more
\ncomfortable trip and prevent fares from getting out of control,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Deputy Governor on administrative affairs Idroes
\npredicted three million people would leave Jakarta for Idul
\nFitri.<\/p>\n
Travelers often say they have to pay up to three times the
\nregular fare to get to their hometowns without being guaranteed a
\nseat. Often they pay regulated fares at ticket boxes but are
\ncharged additional fares on the way.<\/p>\n
Almost every year most bus operators suffer losses because
\ntheir buses were empty on their way back to Jakarta, Aip said.<\/p>\n
\"The hike is needed to offset losses incurred when buses
\nreturn empty after carrying people out of major cities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged bus operators were allowed to carry 10 percent
\nmore passengers than their seating capacity.<\/p>\n
\"Even though the capacity is increased, we will still suffer
\nlosses,\" Aip said.<\/p>\n
If the administration allowed a 50 percent increase, bus
\noperators would get more profit while passengers would get better
\ntrips, he said.<\/p>\n
The special fares will be imposed from 6 a.m. on Feb. 13 until
\n6 a.m. on March 2, and will be based on current bus fares.<\/p>\n
Aip urged bus operators to use their regular drivers instead
\nof hiring new ones to guarantee travelers' safety. Several
\ndrivers make passengers leave the bus a long way from their
\ndestinations.<\/p>\n
\"Bus operators should not abandon passengers,\" Aip said.<\/p>\n
The head of the City Land Transportation Control Agency J.P.
\nSepang earlier estimated 1.6 million travelers would use
\nintercity buses. The state railway company, Perumka, said it was
\nproviding 169,000 seats a day for travelers from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The city administration will operate 9,397 buses during the
\nIdul Fitri holidays including 2,095 buses which usually ply city
\nroutes.<\/p>\n
Aip urged the city not to allow regular buses to stand next to
\nextra buses in the extra 15 terminals, added to the four regular
\nones. He said people would try to use regular buses even when
\nthey were full. But passengers say they prefer regular buses
\nbecause drivers on the extra buses are less familiar with
\nintercity routes. This is why regular buses become overcrowded.<\/p>\n
In the holiday season, drivers are required to get temporary
\npermits and display a green sticker on their buses to prevent
\nbuses operating illegally. Their operating permits will be
\nrevoked if they are found without the permits.<\/p>\n
Like last year the lack of intercity roads compared to
\ntravelers is still predicted to cause severe traffic congestion
\non Java's north coast and in East and West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor Idroes suggested businesses provide
\ntransportation for homecoming employees to prevent an explosion
\nof passengers at bus terminals and train stations.<\/p>\n
People should try to leave early and not bring back relatives
\nor friends, Idroes said.<\/p>\n
The City Population Office estimates 3.5 million Jakartans go
\nto their hometowns each Idul Fitri and return with 300,000
\nrelatives and friends looking for work.<\/p>\n
The newcomers, especially those who are unskilled, often end
\nup as street vendors, beggars or vagabonds. (ste)<\/p>",
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