Haryanto reiterates no hike in fares of public transport
Haryanto reiterates no hike in fares of public transport
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto
has reiterated that there will be no increase in the fares of
public transit vehicles this year.
Haryanto said late last week during a meeting with the elected
best drivers of public transit vehicles, the best seamen and the
best lighthouse keepers at his office that an increase in the
fares of public transit vehicles, if applied now, will, at any
rate, burden the public.
Haryanto was referring to the proposal of the Jakarta Chapter
of Public Transport Owners' Organization (Organda DKI) on July 11
to the governor's office for a 23 to 120-percent increase in the
fares of public transportation.
"No, there will be no fare hike this year," he said.
When asked whether his statement implied that fares would be
increased next year, Haryanto said it was too early to conclude
that. "Let us talk about it next year," he said.
Haryanto said that he had the right to intervene in the case
because as the Minister of Transportation he is the patron for
any traffic and road transportation affairs in the country.
During an inspection to the Blok M bus terminal, South
Jakarta, last month the minister said that there would be no
increase in the fares of public transit vehicles in the city this
year because transport operators could still make profits at the
current fare rate.
Aip Sjarifuddin, the chairman of Organda DKI, said earlier
that the increase was unavoidable because the prices of vehicles,
spare parts, lubricants, and other elements have increased
substantially.
City councilors concurred with Haryanto about Organda's
proposal for a hike in the fares of public transit vehicles.
City councilor Aliwongso Halomoan Sinaga of the City Council's
Commission D on transportation said that Organda's request was
groundless since prices of petrol and spare parts as well as
vehicle maintenance costs have not yet increased.
Sinaga said that Organda should consider the people's ability
to pay the fares, and not think only in terms of profits.
Tax exemptions
If the government should refuse the proposed increase, Aip
previously told reporters, it should do something to help public
vehicle operators by providing, for instance, tax exemptions and
other discount facilities.
According to Aip, the organization proposed an increase of
Rp 300 (11.5 US cents) from the current Rp 250 per passenger in
the fares of regular buses, of Rp 350 from the existing Rp 550
for express buses, of Rp 300 from the present Rp 1,300 for air-
conditioned buses and of Rp 250 from the current Rp 300 for
middle-sized buses or minibuses.
As for taxis, Aip said, Organda proposed an increase to Rp
1500 from the present Rp 900 flagfall and an increase to Rp 550
per kilometer from the present Rp 450. Organda also proposed that
fees for taxi waiting time be increased from the present Rp 4,500
per hour to Rp 7,500.
The last increase in the fares of all public transport in the
city was made on Jan. 22, 1993 while the latest increase in the
fares of taxis was on Aug. 2, 1991. (arf)