Bus fares to be set on new criteria

JAKARTA (JP): Director General of Land Transportation Soejono said here yesterday that the government will soon set bus fares according to distance and route.

"The government is still conducting a study on public transportation networks all over the country as well as inter- city and inter-province bus routes," Soejono said.

Based on the study, not yet completed, the government will arrange new routes and fares, Soejono told reporters.

He said that current bus fares in Jakarta, for instance, were set at the same levels despite different distances.

"How come the bus fares for the Kalideres-Tangerang route and Kalideres-Pulogadung route are equal while their distances are different," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

The Kalideres-Tangerang route is about 30 kilometers, while Kalideres-Pulogadung is about 50 kilometers. The regular bus fare for each route is Rp 250.

According to Soejono, under the planned arrangement, the service routes will be arranged in such a way that public transportation investors will not suffer losses.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) Irawan Sarpingi, said here yesterday that the Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto had expressed support for the organization's efforts to obtain financial facilities from the Ministry of Finance.

"The minister (of transportation) and Organda will together propose facilities such as soft loans and import tax exemption for bus engines," he said after meeting with Haryanto.

He said that Haryanto reiterated in the meeting that Organda should not increase public transportation fares.

"We briefed the minister on the reasons for why we proposed the increase," Irawan he said.

He said he was optimistic that the government would agree to increase the fares next year. In the meantime, we promise to refrain from unilaterally raising fares.

He added, however, that his organization had no power take any action against the violators.

Organda has proposed to the government that public transportation fees be increased by a range of 35 percent to 130 percent. (icn)