Organda asks 50% fare hike during holiday exodus
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Public Land Transportation Owners (Organda) has asked the city administration to lobby the central government for a 50 percent increase in bus fares during the post-fasting month Idul Fitri celebrations, chairman Aip Syarifuddin said on Wednesday.
"Almost all of the buses returning to the city carry no passengers during Idul Fitri," Aip told reporters on the sidelines of an association meeting in Sunter subdistrict, North Jakarta.
He said the hoped-for fare increase was also aimed at covering the skyrocketing prices of bus spare parts and other operational costs due to the prolonged economic crisis.
"Organda will soon submit a proposal for a 50 percent hike to the House of Representatives, as any fare hikes must be endorsed by the House," he said.
Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar separately said on Wednesday that the government would recommend a 35 percent increase in bus fares.
"We'll submit the proposal to the House," Agum said in a media conference.
He concurred with bus owners that the fare hike was important for bus companies to cover their expenses, especially for spare parts.
Aip revealed that Organda had a limited number of buses operational during the busiest days of the holiday: one week before and after Idul Fitri, which is estimated to fall on Jan. 8.
He said the association could only provide 2,600 buses for the two-day Idul Fitri public holiday. Last Idul Fitri the association provided about 4,700 buses.
"Many of our buses are now parked in garages, while others are no longer road worthy," he said.
Meanwhile, head of the city land transportation agency (DLLAJ) Buyung Atang said the city administration would provide 6,412 buses for the Idul Fitri celebration.
"We will borrow buses from the Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters during the peak season if necessary," Buyung said on Tuesday.
Spokesman of the city military command Lt. Col. Djazairi Nachrowi said the city administration should file a request for assistance to the command.
"We'll be ready to assist the city administration to provide public transportation for Idul Fitri."
Nachrowi did not mention the number of vehicles which could be provided by the command, but said it would try to meet the administration's request.
Increase
Agum said the government estimated an increase of 6.5 percent in the number of passengers around Idul Fitri.
"There will be some 17,057,000 passengers, compared to last year's 16,075,538 passengers."
He said about 15,938,000 passengers, or 93.44 percent of the total number of passengers, would travel by buses and trains.
He projected a fall in the number of air travelers. "We estimate a decrease of 1.5 percent or some 302,000 passengers."
The minister also revealed there would be a discount in fares for ships and trains, ranging from 23 percent to 35 percent.
He said the government would deploy 22,461 buses for Idul Fitri, an increase from 21,300 last year.
"For rail services, there will be 1,129 cars compared to 1,062 last year," Agum said.
"We'll maintain the same number of 87 ferries to serve short- distance interisland voyages, but add the number of fast vessels to nine from six last year."
A similar increase is marked for long-distance sea voyages, with 548 ships prepared compared to 408 last year, he said.
"In air transportation, there will be 104 planes ready, compared to 93 last year."
Agum said the Navy confirmed that it would deploy 16 Landing Ship Tanks (LST) to help accommodate passengers during the peak period, but the Air Force was yet to reply on providing assistance.
In a related development, city administration spokesman Muhayat announced on Wednesday that Governor Sutiyoso had issued a decree ordering all hotels allegedly frequented by prostitutes and their clients, massage parlors and entertainment centers in the city to close on Dec. 8 and on Dec. 9, the day before and the first day of the fasting month of Ramadhan.
"They will also be required to close on Christmas Day and Idul Fitri," Muhayat said. (jun/asa/05)