'Fix the bumpy toll roads and traffic jams!'

'Fix the bumpy toll roads and traffic jams!'

The government is planning to increase expressway tolls by at
least 15 percent, ostensibly to reduce the number of cars on the
roads and raise money for maintenance. The Jakarta Post asked
residents for their comments about the plan.

Ivan Pasla, 31, owns a restaurant. He lives in Bumi Serpong
Damai, Tangerang:

I regularly use the Ulujami-Cijantung expressway. About three
weeks ago, the toll increased to Rp 8,000 from Rp 6,500.

Back then, what I thought was: why are they increasing it
instead of decreasing it?

Based on my experience living abroad, the road operators
gradually lower tolls after a certain period of time. Obviously,
after they make their profits. Often, the tolls are eventually
lifted altogether.

Overall, the toll roads I use are OK. I had an experience one
day where my car was damaged on the expressway somewhere before
the Cijantung exit.

A tow company affiliated to the toll road operator offered me
help. Although it is supposed to be free, the men still asked me
for money.

I can understand why they are increasing the tolls. So far,
the expressway that I use is in reasonably good condition. They
have police patrols and it is quite brightly illuminated at
night. I think they will probably use the money for maintenance.

Midya N.S, 23, is a reporter with a lifestyle magazine. She
lives in East Jakarta and often uses the expressway to get to her
office on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta:

What? Another hike? Is it not enough that the prices of
everything are currently rising? The toll is going up too? I
think that it's unacceptable that the expressway operators are
raising the tolls again as they have failed to control traffic on
the roads.

If they increase the tolls, what benefit do we get from this?
I don't see any changes being made. Traffic jams are becoming
more common on all the city toll roads.

Moreover, the potholes on some toll roads make driving
uncomfortable and dangerous. If they want to increase the tolls,
they should do something to give us value for money for a change.
Fix the bumpy roads, and manage the traffic so that the
expressways function appropriately.

Whatever it takes, they need to find solutions that will
improve their services before they raise the tolls.

-- The Jakarta Post