Organda wants 50% rise in bus fares during holidays

JAKARTA (JP): The city's Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) has asked the municipality to approve a 50 percent rise in intercity bus tariffs around Idul Fitri.

Association chairman Aip Syarifuddin told reporters yesterday that members considered the proposal to be fair and necessary to meet increases in levies and bribes, which usually jump during the holiday season.

"Last year's 25 percent increase in intercity bus tickets, set by the government, meant nothing for owners because there were too many illegal levies that drivers had to pay along the way," Aip said. "Therefore, the hike was ineffective."

The city administration usually increases the cost of intercity bus fares before and after Idul Fitri, which will fall in late January.

The effort is designed to control ticket prices and the presence of brokers.

Stern action is taken against bus owners -- including revoking licenses -- whose crews are found guilty of offering or selling tickets for more than the official rates.

One or two weeks after Idul Fitri the price returns to its regular price.

Aip said that the official increase was also urgently needed by bus owners to cover the cost of buses which must return to Jakarta empty or with just a few passengers.

"A higher fare during such a peak season will help guarantee passengers have a more comfortable trip and prevent fares from getting out of control."

He said that many groups intended to profit from the annual exodus of more than one million Jakartans -- particularly housemaids and other casual workers -- by becoming ticket brokers or collecting illegal levies at posts along the routes.

"It's no longer a secret," he said.

"Even though the government has deployed officials to control bribery during the holiday exodus, manipulative practices still occur here and there."

Irzal Djamal, deputy head of the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ), estimated that the number of people leaving the city for Idul Fitri may be less than previous years.

"I don't think there will be a huge leap in the number this time because we're in a difficult economic situation with the monetary crisis," Irzal said.

However, the agency has arranged for 7,801 buses to accommodate an estimated 1.26 million people during Christmas, New Year and the Ramadhan fasting month. (edt)