Organda urges increase in public transportation fees

Organda urges increase in public transportation fees

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Chapter of Public Transport Owners'
Organization (Organda DKI) has proposed a 23 to 120 percent
increase in the fares of public transit vehicles, including
taxis, despite signs that the government will not endorse any
fare hike demands this year.

"We have submitted the proposal to the governor's office," the
organization chairman, Aip Sjarifuddin, said, referring to his
letter dated on July 11 to Governor Surjadi Soedirdja.

Aip said yesterday that the increase was unavoidable because
the prices of vehicles, spare parts, lubricants, and other
elements have increased substantially.

"However, if the government refuses the proposed increase, it
should do something to help us. For instance, it can give us tax
exemptions and other discount facilities," Aip said.

According to Aip, the organization proposed an increase of
Rp 300 (14 U.S. cents) from the current Rp 250 per passenger in
the fares of regular buses, of Rp 350 from the existing Rp 550
for express buses, of Rp 300 from the present Rp 1,300 for air-
conditioned buses and of Rp 250 from the current Rp 300 for
middle-sized buses or minibuses.

As for taxis, Aip said, Organda proposed an increase to Rp
1500 from the present Rp 900 from the flagfall and an increase to
Rp 550 per kilometer from the present Rp 450. Organda also
proposed that fees for taxi waiting time be increased from the
present Rp 4,500 per hour to Rp 7,500 per hour.

The last increase in the fares of all public transports was
made on Jan. 22, 1993 while the latest increase in the fares of
taxis was on Aug. 2, 1991.

The governor's office could not be reached for comment on
Organda's proposal.

But Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said last
month during an inspection to the Blok M bus terminal, South
Jakarta, that there would be no increase in the fares of public
transit vehicles in the city this year.

Haryanto considered that public transport operators could
still make profits at the current fare rate. (arf)