'Service first, not toll hike'

'Service first, not toll hike'

The government is planning to increase toll road charges by at
least 15 percent, ostensibly to reduce the number of cars on the
streets and raise money for road maintenance. The Jakarta Post
asked residents for their comments about the plan.

Yusuf Gala, 30, is a creative group head in an advertising
company in Jakarta. He lives in Central Jakarta:

I disagree with the plan to increase tolls. You know why? The
operators fail to control the traffic along the toll roads. This
is probably caused by limited exit roads and because some
entrance gates are placed too near the intersections.

All vehicles on toll roads must drive at a certain speed,
which is fast, but the potholes on some toll roads make driving
at such speeds uncomfortable and dangerous.

And I am also upset seeing the illegal tow trucks on the toll
road.

One day, I was driving from Karawaci, Tangerang, to Kebon
Jeruk, West Jakarta. And all of sudden my car broke down. While I
was waiting for the toll operator staff to help me, from out of
nowhere four people came claiming to be from a towing company.

They insisted that I use their services, which I did not want.
But without my permission they started to hook up my car to their
truck. They tries to intimidate me after I refused their offer. I
finally had to pay them Rp 10,000 just to make them leave.

I really felt insecure back then. And none of the toll
operator staff ever showed up. Luckily, I managed to start my
car's engine after an hour of waiting for help.

Dimas Wasisto, 25, works for a car rental company. He lives in
South Jakarta:

If the toll operators plan to increase their toll fees, what
benefit do we get from this? I don't see any changes they have
made.

When I use the toll roads, I get stuck in the middle of
traffic.

And the road conditions are still not much different.

If they want to increase the fees, they have got to do
something to make it worth what we must pay.

Whatever it takes, they have to find a solution to make
drivers feel comfortable as driving on the toll roads. And the
roads need to be well maintained. So basically, they should not
increase the tolls before they can guarantee such improvements.

-- The Jakarta Post