Govt seeks fare hike for Idul Fitri buses

Govt seeks fare hike for Idul Fitri buses

JAKARTA (JP): The government will propose a 35 percent
increase in intercity bus fares for one week both before and
after the Idul Fitri holiday to anticipate the traditional exodus
from major urban centers.

The proposal is due to be submitted to the House of
Representatives this week.

"We will submit the (proposed) fare increase this week. But
usually the House approves a 25 percent increase, like it did
last year," the Ministry of Transportation and
Telecommunications' Director General of Land Transportation
Susmono Soesilo said here on Tuesday.

He said the fare hike will be in effect for only one week both
before and after Idul Fitri which is expected to fall on Dec. 27.

Major urban centers such as Jakarta are usually relatively
deserted during the Idul Fitri holiday as millions return to
their hometowns.

Ministry officials predict that some 18.6 million people will
be traveling over the holiday period. Almost 60 percent are
expected to use buses as their mode of transportation.

The bus fare hike during this period is meant to compensate
for empty seats on the buses during the return journey from each
destination.

Meanwhile, the Director of state-owned railroad company PT.
Kereta Api (PTKA) Badar Zaenie said on Tuesday that the company
may not provide discounts this year during the annual exodus
period.

The discounts were designed to encourage people not to travel
during the peak days closest to Idul Fitri.

"Usually we provide a 20 percent discount for those who travel
20 days before and after Idul Fitri. But people never leave for
their hometowns during that time. They always prefer to travel
just a few days before the holidays, so we will suggest
eliminating the discount," Badar said.

"Maybe we will only give a 5 to 10 percent discount, starting
one or two days before and after the holiday," he further said.

Susmono said that in order to anticipate the annual exodus,
the ministry will be supported by 11,000 police officers to
provide security along the three main exodus routes in Java and
will distribute 400,000 free maps for travelers using private
cars.

"We are also preparing heavy equipment to be placed at
disaster-prone areas, just in case landslides or other natural
disasters occur," Susmono, who is also head of the coordination
team for the annual exodus, added.

The ministry is also preparing some 26,460 buses in 27
terminals spread across seven provinces -- all five provinces in
Java, and Lampung and South Sumatra provinces.

An additional 1,882 buses will also be on standby should
demand exceed capacity, while another nine bus terminals are also
ready to be utilized if needed.

Some 238 trains are also being readied in 25 train stations in
the seven provinces.

For sea transportation, the state-owned passenger line PT.
Pelni has prepared 22 passenger and 15 cargo vessels along with
86 small ferries. Private companies are also expected to operate
470 ships to serve the 1,019,000 people traveling by sea.

The ministry is also coordinating with nine airline companies,
including the state-owned Garuda Indonesia and Merpati Nusantara,
to serve the approximately 382,000 passengers who will be
traveling by air over the holiday period. (04/dja)