Organda proposes taxi fare increase of 90 percent
Organda proposes taxi fare increase of 90 percent
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta chapter of the Organization of Land Transportation
Owners (Organda) has submitted a proposal for a 90 percent
increase in taxi fares.
"Organda submitted the proposal in March, but we have yet to
decide whether we will approve it or not. Relevant agencies are
still discussing it," head of the city economic agency Sukri Bey
said on Monday at City Hall.
The proposed hike would mean a flagfall of Rp 5,700 (63 U.S.
cents); the current rate is Rp 3,000.
"Organda has also proposed an increase in the incremental
charge to Rp 1,800 per kilometer, or by 50 percent, from the
current Rp 12,000," Sukri said.
In addition, it also asked the administration to raise the
waiting fee to a minimum Rp 18,000 per hour, from Rp 12,000 per
hour.
Sukri did not elaborate upon the reason behind the proposed
increase, and said only that it was "a biennial trend".
"The flagfall increased to Rp 2,000 from Rp 1,600 between 1998
and 2000. In 2000, it increased to Rp 3,000. It has been four
years now and there has been no increase," he said.
The 2000 taxi fare hike was rejected by several taxi
companies, including Kosti Jaya, Steady Safe, Prestasi, Sri
Medali and Queen Taxi, which insisted on keeping the old fares.
Only Blue Bird Group taxis applied the new fare.
Councillor Koeswadi Soesdihardjo of City Council Commission D
on transportation said any increase must be based on a logical
reason, such as inflation or an increase in the price of spare
parts.
"The increase should not be imposed if it is based merely on a
'trend'," he said.
He declined to comment further on the issue, as he had yet to
receive and study the proposal.
Standard procedure stipulates that any proposal on increasing
tariffs must be passed to the city council for approval.
Taxi drivers have repeatedly complained that fare hikes would
only discourage passengers from utilizing their services and
would therefore affect their daily income severely.
Sabar, an Express Taxi driver, was worried about the proposed
hike.
"Even at the current rate, it's already hard for us to feed
our families. I don't know how much I can earn a day if the rate
is raised," he said, adding that the greater number of taxis
operating in the city also made competition among drivers
fiercer.
City data in 2002 showed there were 40 taxi companies
operating in the capital, with a combined fleet of around 24,000
taxis.