Plug leaks first

Plug leaks first

Managing the business of parking in Indonesia's big cities is
like trying unravel a knot of tangled yarn. So many cars park in
parking lots every day, and yet the revenue earned by the city
administration, which manages the business, constantly falls
short of target. So many parking attendants are on the job, and
yet the safety of the vehicles parked is not assured. Parking
tickets even carry the warning that "the parking management will
not assume responsibility in case of loss of the vehicle or any
of its contents," Little wonder that many people view this
particular business as part of the existence of our big city
mafias.

This kind of situation also exists in Jakarta. For 1994-1995
only Rp 9.5 trillion, or 65.15 percent of the targeted parking
business revenue was collected. For 1995-1996 a revenue of Rp
16.79 trillion was set as the target.However, only Rp 11.2
trillion was collected. In 1996-1997 the situation was even
worse. Of the targeted revenue of Rp16 trillion, only Rp 8.4
trillion was collected.

Leaks, however, are only a part of the problem. For example,
according to the existing city regulations the parking fee is Rp
300 per car, irrespective of time. Where in Jakarta, however, can
one park a car for that fee? Practically nowhere. The lowest
going rate is Rp 500. Shopping centers even set a rate of Rp
1,000 with incremental amounts for each additional hour. What
protection is given the consumer? Where does the balance between
the money collectively paid by customers and that which is
received by the city administration, go?

These are the questions that need to be answered before the
decision to raise the parking fees is formally made, especially
since the proposed raise of up to 1000 percent is quite
considerable. Basically, perhaps, people can accept a reasonable
increase. However, people also have the right to demand a
clarification.

If the proposed increase is designed to reduce the number of
private cars plying the roads, public approval might well be
gained. However, people will demand the fulfillment of one
important condition: that the safety -- and, most importantly,
the comfort -- on public transportation vehicles is better
guaranteed, and that punctuality regarding time schedules is
observed. Can these conditions be met by the Jakarta city
administration?

-- Republika, Jakarta