Ombudsman Finds Mataram-Bima Bus Tickets Sold Above Government-Set Fares
West Nusa Tenggara Ombudsman office has uncovered alleged violations in bus fare regulation on the Mataram-Bima City route ahead of the 2026 Lebaran exodus. Several bus operators have been found selling tickets above the government-set fare ceiling.
Dwi Sudarsono, head of the West Nusa Tenggara Ombudsman office, stated that executive-class bus tickets were sold at prices reaching Rp350,000, whilst the government-set maximum fare limit is Rp330,000.
“However, for sleeper-class buses, ticket prices were found to reach Rp550,000, whilst the permitted maximum is only Rp525,000,” said Dwi on Friday (13 March 2026).
“These findings have been reported to the West Nusa Tenggara Transport Office for immediate follow-up,” he added.
Nevertheless, the Ombudsman also found deluxe-class bus tickets sold at Rp450,000, a price that remains within the government-set fare ceiling.
The West Nusa Tenggara Ombudsman also examined the readiness of Mandalika Terminal in Mataram ahead of this year’s exodus season, including the availability of complaint contact numbers accessible to service users.
“The Ombudsman reminds all public service providers that they are obliged to provide complaint mechanisms for the public, as stipulated in Article 21 of Law Number 25 of 2009 on Public Services,” said Dwi.
The Ombudsman also urged terminal management to strengthen oversight of service activities at the terminal, including ensuring the readiness of bus fleets and the condition of bus crews who will serve passengers during the exodus period.
Khairul Natanegara, head of the 2026 Lebaran Exodus Task Force, stated that the authority of the West Nusa Tenggara Transport Office is quite limited in determining fares set by bus companies. According to him, the Transport Office can only issue warnings to bus companies that sell tickets at excessive prices.
“We recognise that demand for transport before Lebaran typically increases significantly. Many residents from Mataram travel home to Bima and surrounding areas, so bus ticket demand rises sharply,” said Khairul.
Provincial Response to Bus Ticket Price Increases
Ahsanul Khalik, head of the West Nusa Tenggara Communications, Informatics and Statistics Office, emphasised that bus ticket price increases ahead of the 2026 Lebaran exodus season are not part of provincial government policy. This statement was made amid circulating social media reports linking bus fare increases to the West Nusa Tenggara governor’s policies.
“Bus transport fares have been established by the central government through the Ministry of Transport. Regional governments, including the governor, do not have authority in setting bus ticket prices,” Khalik explained in his statement Friday evening.
Khalik described bus ticket price increases during Lebaran as a phenomenon that occurs routinely each year, particularly given the increased public demand for transport services during the exodus period.
Khalik affirmed that fare-setting for inter-city and inter-provincial buses (AKAP) is not the authority of regional governments, but falls entirely under the central government’s transport ministry.
“The role of regional government through the Transport Office focuses more on operational transport oversight and terminal services, rather than fare-setting,” said Khalik.
Khalik assessed that narratives linking bus ticket price increases to the West Nusa Tenggara governor’s policies constitute inaccurate information with potential to mislead the public. He urged citizens to exercise prudence in receiving and sharing information.