Councilor gives thumbs up to new parking plan
Councilor gives thumbs up to new parking plan
JAKARTA (JP): A City Council member hailed the plan to bring
the private sector into the management of Jakarta's parking
facilities.
Helmy A.R. Syihab, who chairs the council's Commission C on
financial affairs, told reporters yesterday that he believes the
plan could bolster the efforts of BP Parkir, the city's parking
management agency, to raise funds from parking fees.
"I agree with the decision because it can increase revenues
from the parking sector and the agency can fulfill the target set
by the municipal administration," Helmy said.
Helmy also agreed with the plan not to entirely privatize the
parking management business, allowing BP Parkir to retain some
control over the affairs.
"BP Parkir should be involved in the new management, at least
to control the operation of the private contractors hired. The
agency can also print the parking receipts," Helmy said.
Deputy Governor for the Economy and Development Tb. Rais
stated recently that a cooperation with private companies will be
implemented in managing the city's parking facilities to improve
management and make it more efficient, so that the revenue target
can be met.
The Municipality has set a Rp 14.6 billion revenue target from
parking fees in the 1994/1995 fiscal year, which ends on March
31, but this is likely to fall short as in the nine months to
December it has only raised Rp 9 millions.
Sumaryono, the head of BP Parkir, which manages most of the
city's parking facilities including those along main roads and
some off the main roads, said on Wednesday that the agency has
opened a bid to manage the city's parking facilities.
Sumaryono explained that a total of 18 bidders have withdrawn
from the project with only one still bidding for the job.
Helmy said any company appointed to run the parking management
must hire the 3,000 parking attendants currently under BP
Parkir's employment as full time workers, as a way to increase
their welfare.
He believes that these parking attendants will perform better
under the strong discipline of a private company.
New management under the private company will also have to
offer better services to motorists, which is crucial if the
Municipality expects to meet its revenue target from parking
fees, he said.
Helmy said a better service is expected even in view of talks
that the City plans to raise the parking fees from Rp 300 an hour
to Rp 500.
In fact, he said, some areas are already charging that much
and motorists would not object as long as the parking management
improves services.
Helmy also hailed the plan to give lucrative prizes, obtained
from parking receipts, in an effort to encourage motorists to
insists on obtaining receipts from parking attendants.
"I think this is a good way of improving management, to
control revenue from parking fees," he said. (yns)