Tolls on turnpikes to increase

JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to raise tolls on turnpikes in the country by about 20 percent within the next few months to help operators cope with rising maintenance costs, a senior official said here on Wednesday.

The secretary to the state minister of public works, Sunaryo Sumadji, said the proposal toll increase had been submitted to the Cabinet secretary for approval.

He said the increase, which would be the first since 1992, would affect seven toll roads; Jagorawi tollway, Jakarta- Cikampek, Jakarta-Tanggerang, Tanggerang-Merak, Padalarang- Cileunyi in West Java, Surabaya-Gempol in East, and the Belawan- Medan-Tanjung Morawa toll road in North Sumatra.

Sunaryo said most of the country's major toll road operators had suffered financial losses because costs for road maintenance had far exceeded their revenues. (hen)