Jakarta Council Members Speak Out on Planned Transjabodetabek Fare Changes

Several members of the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) have voiced their opinions on the planned fare adjustment for the Transjabodetabek bus service. Commission B member Dwi Rio Sambodo stated that any revision to Transjakarta fares, especially for the Transjabodetabek routes serving buffer cities, must be carefully studied by considering service sustainability, regional fiscal capacity, and the socio-economic conditions of the public. “Before making a decision on fare adjustments, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government needs to ensure that operational efficiency and subsidy management have been optimised,” Rio said in Jakarta on Wednesday, as quoted by Antara. He noted that a fare adjustment is reasonable, given that the current tariff has been maintained for a considerably long period. He added that the region’s fiscal condition is also undergoing adjustments following budget efficiency measures by the central government, including a reduction in revenue-sharing funds (DBH). Rio stressed that transparency in budget use and the effectiveness of public spending must be a primary concern so that any policy has a strong and accountable basis. On the other hand, he acknowledged that public transport serves a strategic function as a basic public service. Therefore, any fare policy must consider citizens’ purchasing power and its impact on the public’s willingness to continue using public transport. “Periodic evaluation is a reasonable step, especially given the current regional fiscal capacity,” he said. Fellow Commission B member Muhammad Taufik Zulkifli said that adjusting fares for Transjabodetabek, which serves Bogor, Bekasi, Depok in West Java and Tangerang in Banten, could significantly reduce the substantial transport subsidy. “If there is an increase, it will actually reduce the transport subsidy from the Jakarta Provincial Government,” Taufik said. He argued that the current fare of Rp3,500, which has been in place since 2005, is long overdue for revision. Moreover, he noted that Transjakarta services for residents outside Jakarta are currently subsidised by the DKI Jakarta Regional Budget (APBD), making a fare increase reasonable. “The most important thing is that it does not burden the public, especially given the current economic conditions,” he added. Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo previously clarified that not all Transjabodetabek routes will see fare adjustments. “I want to explain, because several media outlets have quoted it improperly, making it seem as if Transjabodetabek fares will increase by Rp10,000 to Rp15,000. Not all Transjabodetabek routes will experience such an increase,” Pramono said in West Jakarta on Thursday. He mentioned that only certain routes, such as the Blok M-Soekarno Hatta Airport route, will undergo fare adjustments. He did not provide detailed routes or the new tariffs but promised the changes would not burden residents of Jakarta or the surrounding buffer cities. “Once again, for me, the most important thing is not the price change or adjustment, but making Jakarta residents more comfortable and more able to enjoy Transjabodetabek,” he said. Pramono also opened the possibility of adding a new category to the existing 15 groups eligible for free public transport in the capital. He said the provincial government continues to campaign for the use of these free travel categories to encourage public transport usage. He pledged to seriously consider the Transjabodetabek fare adjustment to ensure it does not drive citizens back to using private vehicles. He also confirmed that fares will be considered based on distance, so the adjustment does not burden the public under current conditions.