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