Bus operators threaten to hike fares arbitrarily
Bus operators threaten to hike fares arbitrarily
JAKARTA (JP): Dissatisfied with the City Council's decision on
bus fares, bus operators in the capital threatened on Monday to
increase fares by 57 percent starting on Tuesday, in accordance
with a proposal from Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.
Bus operators grouped under the city's Organization of Land
Transportation Owners (Organda) told a meeting with the City
Council's Commission D for development affairs that they rejected
the council's recommendation on the fare hike.
Organda executive Putu Wirta Antara asserted that the
council's recommendation to increase bus fares by a maximum of 30
percent would not cover bus operators' operating costs.
"The increase recommended by the council is too low. We will
follow the governor's proposal," Putu, who is also chief of
Kopaja bus cooperative, told reporters.
Sutiyoso proposed to the council on Wednesday that bus fares
be increased by between 30 percent and 60 percent following the
increase in fuel prices.
The council, however, slashed the proposed increase levels to
between 14 percent and 30 percent.
Based on the council's recommendation, bus fares would
increase from Rp 500 to Rp 650 for regular buses, from Rp 700 to
Rp 800 for mini buses like Kopaja and Metromini and from Rp 2,500
to Rp 3,000 for air-conditioned buses (Patas). The bus fare for
students would increase from Rp 200 to Rp 250.
Organda had proposed a higher increase in bus fares of up to
100 percent.
The council's Commission D chairman Sayogo Hendrosubroto
expressed his concern over threats from bus operators to stage a
strike or to increase bus fares arbitrarily.
"They should not issue threats. They cannot increase the bus
fares arbitrarily before the governor makes a decision on the
fares," Sayogo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
said.
He contended that the percentage increase recommended by the
council was based on the increase in fuel prices and spare parts.
He reiterated that the council also considered the interests
of the people, who were still suffering due to the economic
crisis and rising prices of various goods and services.
"Of course bus companies want a higher increase, but we also
have to consider public demand for a lower increase," Sayogo
remarked.
Governor Sutiyoso canceled again his scheduled announcement of
the new bus fares slated for Monday evening because he had not
yet received the recommendation letter from the council.
A source at City Hall said that Sutiyoso was especially upset
by the council's decision on bus fares, saying that the increase
recommended by the council was too low and difficult to apply.
"An increase from Rp 500 to Rp 650 would be difficult to
implement as it's difficult to find Rp 50 coins," the official
said.
City deputy governor for development affairs Budihardjo
Sukmadi said that the city administration would discuss the bus
fare increase with the council.
"The increase might be announced tomorrow," Budihardjo told
reporters on Monday evening. (jun)
JAKARTA (JP): Dissatisfied with the City Council's decision on
bus fares, bus operators in the capital threatened on Monday to
increase fares by 57 percent starting on Tuesday, in accordance
with a proposal from Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.
Bus operators grouped under the city's Organization of Land
Transportation Owners (Organda) told a meeting with the City
Council's Commission D for development affairs that they rejected
the council's recommendation on the fare hike.
Organda executive Putu Wirta Antara asserted that the
council's recommendation to increase bus fares by a maximum of 30
percent would not cover bus operators' operating costs.
"The increase recommended by the council is too low. We will
follow the governor's proposal," Putu, who is also chief of
Kopaja bus cooperative, told reporters.
Sutiyoso proposed to the council on Wednesday that bus fares
be increased by between 30 percent and 60 percent following the
increase in fuel prices.
The council, however, slashed the proposed increase levels to
between 14 percent and 30 percent.
Based on the council's recommendation, bus fares would
increase from Rp 500 to Rp 650 for regular buses, from Rp 700 to
Rp 800 for mini buses like Kopaja and Metromini and from Rp 2,500
to Rp 3,000 for air-conditioned buses (Patas). The bus fare for
students would increase from Rp 200 to Rp 250.
Organda had proposed a higher increase in bus fares of up to
100 percent.
The council's Commission D chairman Sayogo Hendrosubroto
expressed his concern over threats from bus operators to stage a
strike or to increase bus fares arbitrarily.
"They should not issue threats. They cannot increase the bus
fares arbitrarily before the governor makes a decision on the
fares," Sayogo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
said.
He contended that the percentage increase recommended by the
council was based on the increase in fuel prices and spare parts.
He reiterated that the council also considered the interests
of the people, who were still suffering due to the economic
crisis and rising prices of various goods and services.
"Of course bus companies want a higher increase, but we also
have to consider public demand for a lower increase," Sayogo
remarked.
Governor Sutiyoso canceled again his scheduled announcement of
the new bus fares slated for Monday evening because he had not
yet received the recommendation letter from the council.
A source at City Hall said that Sutiyoso was especially upset
by the council's decision on bus fares, saying that the increase
recommended by the council was too low and difficult to apply.
"An increase from Rp 500 to Rp 650 would be difficult to
implement as it's difficult to find Rp 50 coins," the official
said.
City deputy governor for development affairs Budihardjo
Sukmadi said that the city administration would discuss the bus
fare increase with the council.
"The increase might be announced tomorrow," Budihardjo told
reporters on Monday evening. (jun)