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)