Bus fares to be set on new criteria
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)