Organda agrees to 30% bus fare hike for holidays

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) agreed with the government decision on a 30 percent increase in intercity bus fares the week before and after the Idul Fitri holiday in anticipation of the traditional exodus from the capital.

Organda Jakarta Chairman Aip Sjarifuddin said on Monday that the organization appreciates the government decision and hopes the House of Representatives will accept the proposal.

"We appreciate the central government efforts for the increase although it is still below our expectations, but at least it is higher than last year," Aip said after meeting with Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Lt. Gen. (ret.) Agum Gumelar.

The fare hike will be in effect for only one week both before and after Idul Fitri which is expected to fall on Dec. 27.

The increase in the fares is meant to compensate for the usually empty seats on the buses during the return journey from each destination.

In January this year, the central government already imposed a 25 percent hike in intercity bus fares.

"Actually we wanted a 50 percent hike during that two-week period but 30 percent is good enough," Aip said.

The City Land Agency Chief Buyung Atang told The Jakarta Post after the meeting that the city administration will increase the supervision of these buses as not all buses can be used for intercity travel.

"We are going to put stickers on each bus that will inform passengers of the fare. However, we are still calculating how many buses can operate during the holiday exodus," Buyung said.

But City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo urged the city administration to eliminate the bus fare hike during the coming holiday period as it is already the second Idul Fitri in the same calender year.

The previous Idul Fitri fell on Jan. 8.

Another councilor, Saud Rahman of the United Development Party said the ideal fare hike should be 25 percent as in previous Idul Fitri holidays.

Saud remarked that economic conditions in the city had yet to improve. "It's still too much of a burden for our community," he said.

He also reminded the city administration to revoke the licenses of bus companies which raised their fares higher than the rate stipulated by the government.

Major urban centers such as Jakarta are usually deserted during the Idul Fitri holiday as millions return to their hometowns.

This year, the central government predicts that some 18.6 million people will be traveling over the holiday period. Almost 60 percent are expected to use buses as their mode of transportation.

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications is also preparing some 26,460 buses in 27 terminals spread across seven provinces -- all five provinces of Java, and Lampung and South Sumatra.

An additional 1,882 buses will also be on standby should demand exceed capacity, while another nine bus terminals are also ready to be utilized if needed. (dja/07)