Toll fees

Toll fees

PT Citramarga Nusaphala Persada -- the company which is
building the newly extended Tomang-Tanjung Priok-Ancol-Pluit toll
road -- has proposed a toll fee hike, despite the fact that it
was already raised by Rp 500 in October last year.

According to the regulations on toll roads, toll fees may be
increased once every two years. The fee for sedans, for example
-- originally set at Rp 2,000 -- was raised to Rp 2,500 last
October.

The company's need for new investments for its Ancol-Pluit
project was the reason behind the proposed toll fee increase. In
short, additional costs were the reason behind the proposed
increase.

As a toll road user, I object to the proposed increase
because:

* There will be few users of the entire Tomang-Tanjung Priok-
Ancol-Pluit route. Most motorists will use the route
intermittently. It will therefore be unfair if the fee for the
entire route is imposed on short-distance users.

* The Ancol-Pluit section will be a very busy one. Users of
this section of the toll road should pay the biggest share of the
fees.

* Already, there is the 10 percent annual hike.

I am urging the government to not raise the present toll fees
until October 1997, after the general elections. I propose this
for the benefit of the average people like me. I have to use the
toll road twice a day, to and from work, and I have yet to see a
salary raise.

The government is setting a fine example in not raising
electricity and gasoline prices, even though prices of these
commodities have increased on the international market and,
therefore, no longer comply with local prices.

It is my wish that the government gives similar consideration
to the toll fees.

SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO

Jakarta