No bus fare hike: Haryanto

Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto affirmed that there would be no increase in fares of city buses this year despite the demands made by several bus companies to double it from Rp 300 (13 US cents) to Rp 750.

"They can still make a healthy profit at the current fare," Haryanto said during an inspection of the Blok M bus terminal in South Jakarta over the weekend.

He said that with the continual glut of passengers riding the bus combined with proper management of the company, there was no reason for owners not to make a profit.

When queried further if there would be increase next year, Haryanto declined to answer.

However the he hinted of a likely increase due to the full implementation of a 1992 traffic law next year stipulating that each standing passenger must have at least 0.17 square meters of space.

"The owners can still gain a profit because they carry as many passengers as they can, but next year the new law must be strictly obeyed," he said.

"We will carefully determine how many passengers will stand and how many will be sitting," he added.

Referring to the likely increase, Haryanto said that many passengers he had talked to that day told him they wouldn't mind if there was a Rp 50 hike.

The minister further called on the state-owned highway company, PT Jasa Marga, to give some sort of price dispensation to public buses passing through the toll roads. (mds)