Sutiyoso warns firm action against errant bus owners
Sutiyoso warns firm action against errant bus owners
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso stated on Tuesday he would
instruct the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) to punish
bus operators who unofficially increased their fares by up to 66
percent over the past few days.
"I'll instruct the transportation agency to take action
against these bus operators.
"They simply can't raise their fares as they want. The city
administration hasn't decided on the new fares because too many
parties are still opposed to the plan," he said.
A DLLAJ survey conducted last week found that a number of
buses in each of the city's five mayoralties had already put into
effect the planned bus fare hikes, which are not yet official.
The governor said, however, he had not yet received an
official report on the survey from the agency.
About a week ago, the administration announced the fare of
regular buses would rise to Rp 500 from the current Rp 300, non-
air-conditioned express and limited buses (PATAS) to Rp 900 from
Rp 700, minibuses to Rp 700 from Rp 500 and air-conditioned PATAS
buses to Rp 2,500 from Rp 2,300.
The fares do not include extra charges of between Rp 50 and Rp
100 per passenger for toll roads.
Student bus fares will be increased to Rp 200 from the current
Rp 100.
The planned fare increases, which were to be made official in
a gubernatorial decree, have been temporarily halted due to
criticism from the public and a number of organizations,
including the Indonesian Consumers Association (YLKI).
YLKI deputy chairman Agus Pambagio insisted the association
would only support the administration's decision to hike fares if
the administration could first calculate the various components
which make up the fares and eradicate illegal levies in the
transportation industry. He said this would prevent the new fares
from burdening bus operators and passengers.
DLLAJ head Buyung Atang said on Tuesday the survey was carried
out by five teams, or one team in each of the city's mayoralties.
Each group rode 50 buses in their respective areas to check on
the fares being collected by bus crews.
Buyung gave few details of the bus companies whose crews had
illegally raised fares.
He did say, however, that crews on Mayasari Bhakti, Steady
Safe and Kopaja buses increased fares for regular buses to Rp 500
from the official fare of Rp 300, and non-air-conditioned express
and limited buses from Rp 700 to Rp 800.
The team did not find any illegally raised fares aboard
minibuses or air-conditioned PATAS buses, he said.
Buyung said the agency had sent warning letters to bus
operators, demanding they obey the existing fares. However, he
did not rule out the possibility of further action.
"We summoned the bus operators but they said they never told
their bus crew to increase the fares. So we instructed them to
keep the crews from charging passengers the unofficial tariff,"
he said. (ind)