Ombudsman Finds Unjustified Bus Fare Hikes in NTB, Organda Responds

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia for West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has again discovered practices of unjustified fare increases for non-economy Inter-City Within Province (AKDP) buses during the return flow of the 1447 Hijriah Eid al-Fitr holiday on the Bima-Mataram route. Similar findings had previously been reported during the outbound journey. Head of the NTB Ombudsman, Dwi Sudarsono, revealed that based on the Decree of the Head of the NTB Provincial Transportation Department Number 48 of 2026, the official fare for the Bima-Mataram route is Rp330,000. However, in the field, the public is charged up to Rp400,000. “This is clearly not in accordance with the established provisions. Moreover, the bus tickets were purchased at the official counters of the bus companies (PO), not through touts,” Dwi told detikBali on Wednesday (25/3/2026). Dwi emphasised that this fare discrepancy burdens the public as transport service users. Unjustified fare hike practices should be sanctioned. According to him, this finding indicates weak oversight by the NTB Provincial Government, particularly the NTB Provincial Transportation Department. The Ombudsman assesses that fare violations continue repeatedly without firm action. “This shows that oversight is not running optimally. We already conveyed the findings during the outbound flow, but during the return flow, the same violations occurred again,” he stressed. Dwi urged the NTB Transportation Department, as the leading sector, to have primary responsibility in maintaining the sustainability of AKDP transport businesses while ensuring healthy fare competition. Oversight, Dwi said, must be conducted seriously and continuously, especially during the Lebaran transport peak which is prone to price surges. “The Ombudsman hopes that the transport fare decree does not become mere formality without real implementation oversight in the field,” he added. Dwi also warned that weak oversight could open opportunities for fare manipulation practices that harm the public. Therefore, the Ombudsman encourages firm steps from the Transportation Department, including action against operators violating fare provisions. Organda Responds Chairman of the Land Transport Organisation (Organda) NTB, Junaidi Kasum, responded to the Ombudsman’s findings regarding alleged fare markups on buses during the return flow on the Bima-Mataram route. According to JK, his familiar nickname, ticket sales outside the agreement are carried out by rogue elements. “So we have agreed with our colleagues that if there are rogue elements selling tickets outside the agreed and reinforced decision by the NTB Transportation Department Head’s letter, they can be reported,” said JK. JK assured that ticket sales not in accordance with the set fares are done by rogue elements and occur outside terminals. “Now, those selling outside terminals can be reported. But if there are rogue perpetrators or entrepreneurs or owners, then they can be sanctioned,” he stressed. If the public feels aggrieved, JK encouraged reporting to the authorities. However, as far as Organda NTB’s oversight, there are no inter-city bus ticket sales outside regulations. “Up to now, everything is normal. If there are fares not in accordance, they are not our members, they are rogue elements. Because we still sell according to the provincial government decision, in this case the NTB Transportation Department decision,” JK concluded.