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Sumaryono explained that a total of 18 bidders have withdrawn from the project with only one still bidding for the job.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)