Mayestik to use new parking system

Mayestik to use new parking system

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will trial an automated parking system at the Mayestik market in South Jakarta next month in an effort to increase revenue.

The head of the city parking authority (BP Parkir), Sumaryono, said yesterday that the trial at Mayestik will enable the parking authority staff to accurately count the number of vehicles parked in the market.

"The total investment for the trial is Rp 400 million (US$173,913), which will come from the city budget," he said.

Sumaryono said that four automatic machines will operate at the market; two machines at the entrance and the other two at the exit gates.

The parking system is expected to increase city revenues.

The administration has set a revenue target of Rp 14.6 billion (US$6.63 million) from parking fees for 1994/1995. The fiscal year ends on March 31. In the first nine months BP Parkir has collected only Rp 9 billion. In 1993/1994, BP Parkir collected Rp 9 billion, but targeted Rp 11.6 billion.

Despite the authority's inability to meet its own targets, the city expects an 20-percent annual increase in parking fee revenue.

In 1995/1996, for example, revenues are expected to reach Rp 16.3 billion, and Rp 22.8 billion in 1996/1997. In 1997/1998, revenues are expected to hit Rp 29.1 billion.

Because the city-owned parking authority has failed to live up to the administration's expectations, the city has been trying to improve the management of parking facilities.

Last year, the administration decided to invite private companies to manage parking, but it failed to find a workable system.

Sumaryono said the administration intends to implement the automated system in all off-street parking lots managed by BP Parkir. (yns)