Public support of private interest

Despite strong objections from many, including some members of the House of Representatives, toll fees on Jakarta's urban turnpikes have been raised. We understand the objections that have been raised. People usually use toll roads to avoid congestion on ordinary roads, but toll roads here do not guarantee a free flow of traffic. Furthermore, when jams occur, police rarely provide the toll road users with information.

It looks as if the public is being forced to use toll roads with no proper service standard. In other countries, providing such information is an absolute requirement to compensate for the extra cost to the users.

Toll fees are normally imposed to cover the initial construction costs. Afterwards the public should no longer be burdened with levies. If the need to cover operation and maintenance costs still exists, the toll fees should logically be lower than before, not higher.

Considering all this, it is only natural for the public to feel disappointed. Not even the objections raised by the House members have been heeded. What is there to be said in such a situation?

The state, supposedly a provider of public services, is attempting to justify the policy devised by a private toll road company, despite the burden imposed on the public. But now that the tariff is to be increased, every effort should be made by the toll road management to improve the service and quality of their roads.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta