Govt considering proposal to raise transport fares

JAKARTA (JP): Directorate General of Land Transportation is in favor of the proposal to increase public transportation fares, and will recommend that the Ministry of Transportation approve the plan.

Head of the Organization of Land Transportation Owners, Organda, Aip Sjarifuddin said yesterday that Director General of Land Transportation Soejono had principally approved of the proposal.

Aip said that Organda members met with Soejono on Thursday to explain the importance of increasing the fares of public transportation companies.

Soejono, Aip added, understood Organda's reasons for the increases, that the current fares do not meet current conditions and that public transportation fares have not been increased since 1990.

Organda has proposed that fares on regular buses should be increased from Rp 250 (11 U.S. cents) to Rp 500, Metro Mini bus fares from Rp 300 to Rp 700, Patas buses (quick, limited service) from Rp 550 to Rp 900 and air-conditioned buses from Rp 1,300 to Rp 1,750.

Aip added that the current taxi flag fall of Rp 900 is too low. Organda suggested it be increased to Rp 1,500, while stating that inter-city bus fares should be determined per kilometer.

Organda has formed a team consisting of five persons to lobby related officials as well as members of the House of Representative.

"The team should make those people understand the main reasons for the increases," Aip said, adding that members of the team are himself, Irawan Sarpingi, Jauhari Peranginangin, Asrul Aziz Taba and G.T. Surbakti.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party Lukman F. Mokoginta urged the government to take care in handling the matter because it can affect the country's economic condition.

"Public transportation fares are related to people's incomes, therefore the government should be careful in making a decision concerning the matter because it can cause various problems," Lukman said.

On the other hand, he said, people will protest against the raises if their incomes remain the same. "We have to be aware and more realistic. Many people will most likely be unable to afford the new fares," he said.

He added that the increase in public transportation fares could also affect the prices of various goods and staple foods, and in the end it could cause inflation.

Services

Member of the United Development Party Saud Rachman shared his opinion, saying that it would be better if Organda improved public transportation services first before demanding the government agree to increasing the fares.

"Public transportation companies in the city do not deserve the raises unless they improve their services," Saud said.

When told that Organda claimed the poor services are caused by the fact that many public transportation owners cannot afford to buy spare parts for their fleets and this condition forces them to use second-hand replacement parts, Saud said, "It is just an excuse".

"The organization just made an excuse, on the contrary they get a lot of profits from that condition," he said.(yns)