Unfair road toll hike<\/p>\n
Severe traffic jams on Monday should make the operator of the
\ntoll road aware that it is unfair to raise the toll tariff.
\nOfficials should take steps to avoid traffic jams in the first
\nplace, give information regarding the current state of the toll
\nroad and provide solutions, such as asking car drivers to use
\nalternative roads.<\/p>\n
The state owned (Jasa Marga) operator of the toll road could
\nactually take such measures, because its communication center is
\nlocated in the Jagorawi (Jakarta-Bogor-Ciawi) region and has a
\nlarge network of branches found from Cikampek to Tangerang and
\nfrom Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Tanjung Priok port.<\/p>\n
Onsite officials allow cars to enter the toll road, even when
\nthere are already traffic jams, because more vehicles mean more
\nincome for the operator. Car drivers are only aware of a traffic
\njam when they are already stuck in it. The continuous inflow of
\ncars worsens the situation on the toll roads, which charge a
\nminimum of Rp 3,000 per car.<\/p>\n
Compared to toll roads abroad, our toll roads are actually no
\ndifferent from regular roads. There are no facilities like
\nemergency telephones, noise-breakers, lighting, to help drivers
\nat night. Thus, the cost of the toll road construction and
\noperation in Indonesia is much lower, if you exclude the level of
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
The toll road operator cannot say that one need not use the
\nfacility if one doesn't like it, because the management is owned
\nby the state, hence also by the public.<\/p>\n
The management must instead improve its service and manage the
\ntoll roads transparently if it wants to raise its tolls. Many
\nbelieve that the operator earns enormous profits as the toll
\nroads are always crowded with cars. So is it just mismanagement,
\ngreediness or is corruption involved?<\/p>\n
-- Warta Kota, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unfair-road-toll-hike-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }