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