New toll rate burdensome
New toll rate burdensome
From Media Indonesia
On Aug. 1, when I was going to the Cengkareng airport to meet my brother, I was surprised by the enforcement of a new toll tariff for the toll road leading to the airport. This tariff is not imposed on the toll road from Pluit to the airport proper but from the access road from Tangerang to the airport through the rear gate, known as the M1 gate. To get into the airport I had to pay Rp 2,000. When I was going home I had to pay the same amount just to be able to pass this road (in fact the distance from the toll gate to the airport is less than 5 kilometers.)
At first I was reluctant to pay the toll fee, but then I decided to pay it as otherwise I would have to take a detour. The toll gate officer told me that the new tariff was stipulated in Decision No. KEP.506/KM.105/APII/99 dated July 22, 1999, and that monthly toll subscription was Rp 90,000
This explanation left me wondering why in the present reform era, with the economic crisis still squeezing the country there are officials cashing in on any opportunities to make life more burdensome to the people by putting forward reasons that hardly stand to reason. And this has occurred, of all places, at a large state company, PT Angkasa Pura II.
Isn't it the people's money that has enabled not only the establishment of this state company but also the construction of all the airport facilities? If it is said that the toll gate has been put up for security reasons, why don't the relevant authorities increase the number of personnel to maintain security in the offices located in the airport area. One may suspect, therefore, that this toll gate has been put up simply to earn extra income (Just imagine how many cars go through this gate every day). If the reason is to increase income, why don't the relevant authorities lease Terminal A, now very much neglected, to foreign airlines?
The putting up of this new toll gate has only made airport management worse than ever in that the parking syndicate can freely operate, allowing illegal airport taxis to take passengers, as official taxis are not allowed to go through the M1 gate. With taxi passenger recruiters going about freely, the situation is really uncomfortable.
I would like to hear the response from Tangerang administration and counselors at Tangerang council. What will they think about this discrimination toward Tangerang residents, because they have to pay the toll fee if they want to go to the airport. Of course, the proceeds from this toll fee collection will go to the state company managing Cengkareng airport.
I hope this decision is not made by the director of PT Angkasa Pura. But if it is true, I would like to suggest to him that he not just listen to the opinions of his subordinates but also listen to the complaints and opinions of road users. I hope that the decision on the new toll tariff can be reviewed.
BOB S. WIDJAJANTO
Tangerang, West Java