Sutiyoso to hike parking fees by 400% to 800%

JAKARTA (JP): Despite strong opposition from city councilors, Governor Sutiyoso insisted on Wednesday on raising administration-set parking fees of Rp 300 by between 400 percent and 800 percent in a bid to help increase city revenue.

Sutiyoso said fees for on-street parking would be raised by 400 percent and fees for off-street parking would increase 800 percent.

"The calculation (of the increase) is not baseless as we have thought it over and involved city councilors and representatives of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI)," he said.

The governor said the fee increase was expected to reduce parking density in crowded areas because the fees at these areas would be set much higher than at places with fewer vehicles.

Sutiyoso said that in reality, parking fees were far higher than the set fee of Rp 300 for cars and Rp 100 for motorcycles.

"It is better that the money is taken by us than by hoodlums," he said, referring to illegal parking attendants, most of whom are known to be hoodlums.

Based on a draft bylaw being deliberated by the administration, the fee increase will be based on variables for area density, including the number of vehicles being parked and parking capacity.

The fee for on-street parking in crowded areas for vehicles in category A which includes sedans, jeeps, minibuses and vans will be set at Rp 1,500 for one parking session; Rp 2,000 for vehicles in category B like buses and trucks; and Rp 200 for motorcycles (category C).

In averagely crowded areas the proposed fee for category A is Rp 1,300; category B is Rp 1,500 and category C is Rp 200. In least crowded areas the proposed fee for category A is Rp 1,000; category B is Rp 1,000 and category C is Rp 200.

The fee for crowded areas for category A is Rp 1,500 for the first hour; category B is Rp 2,000 and category C is Rp 200 for one parking session.

Crowded

In averagely crowded areas the proposed fee for category A is Rp 1,300 for the first hour; category B is Rp 1,500 and category C is Rp 200 for one parking session.

The proposed fee for off-street parking in crowded areas for category A is Rp 2,000 for the first hour, category B is Rp 2,500; category C is Rp 200 for one parking session.

In averagely crowded areas the proposed fee for category A is Rp 1,500 for the first hour; category B is Rp 2,000 and category C is Rp 200 for one parking session.

When asked about how to inform people of parking area categories, Sutiyoso said the administration would publish a list of categories of roads in the media.

The head of City Council Commission D for development affairs, Ali Wongso Sinaga, and YLKI vice chairman Agus Pambagio denied any involvement in determining the fee increase as stated by the governor.

Sinaga said councilors were involved only in talks on parking management and not on the fee increase.

"We have repeatedly said the fee should be just and affordable for people and the increase should also be followed by an improvement in service," he said.

According to him, a reasonable parking fee for A category would be Rp 1,000 for crowded areas and Rp 500 in average and least crowded areas for both on-street and off-street parking.

He said the administration's fee proposal for vehicles in B and C categories was fair.

Agus said it would be better if the administration did not increase the fee until service was improved.

"I do not think the council should endorsed the proposal until there are regulations that ensure an improvement parking services," he said. (ind)