Transjabodetabek Commuters Urge Jakarta and West Java to Keep Fares Affordable

A number of Transjabodetabek passengers are hoping the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and its supporting provincial administrations, including West Java, will work together to keep fares for the public transport service affordable. “If possible, fares shouldn’t go up. It is the cheapest transport, after all,” said one Transjabodetabek user, Anggi, 33, at Blok M Terminal in South Jakarta on Thursday, 11 June. She admitted she was worried that fares for the service connecting Jakarta with its satellite areas might increase in the future. She regularly uses Transjakarta services, particularly Transjabodetabek, to support her daily mobility. According to her, a fare increase would add to people’s expenses, especially for those who rely on public transport for work and other activities. “The worry is that transport costs will just go up,” Anggi said. She therefore supports cooperation between the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and the satellite regional governments in managing the Transjabodetabek service. She added that public transport remains a crucial necessity for people commuting across regions. “I agree with there being cooperation, because transport is still somewhat difficult,” Anggi stated. Echoing Anggi, another Transjabodetabek user, Heri Sumarsono, also hopes the fare will be maintained so as not to burden people, particularly passengers who do not receive fare subsidies. “Even though I am an elderly person, I do not agree if fares increase. I feel sorry for those under 50 because they still pay the regular fare,” Heri said. Heri, who currently enjoys the free fare facility for the elderly, believes public transport fares must remain affordable to support public mobility and reduce the use of private vehicles. He therefore hopes the government can continue providing subsidies and keep fares stable amidst various public transport financing challenges. “I hope it stays flat; pity the others,” Heri stressed. Transjabodetabek is one of the transport modes connecting Jakarta with several satellite areas, including West Java, making inter-regional cooperation crucial to ensure service continuity and fare affordability for users. The Transjabodetabek fare is currently still under discussion, with a potential range of Rp10,000 to Rp15,000. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is also preparing a maximum integration fare scheme of Rp10,000 for people using more than one mode of public transport. Transjabodetabek routes include Bekasi, Depok, and Bogor in West Java, as well as Tangerang in Banten. DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung confirmed that Transjabodetabek fares would be considered based on distance, so that the fare adjustment does not burden the public under current conditions. He promised to give serious consideration to the Transjabodetabek fare adjustment to prevent residents from switching back to private transport. “Not all Transjabodetabek fare increases will be high. As governor, I am also considering the public’s capacity in the current situation,” Pramono said in the South Jakarta area on Thursday. He previously affirmed his commitment to making Jakarta a comfortable city for its residents. Pramono said he would consider the matter very seriously before deciding on the new Transjabodetabek fare. He also stated that his administration would increase the fleet to make the service better and more comfortable for users. Pramono also opened up the possibility of adding new categories to the 15 categories eligible for free public transport in the capital. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government continues to campaign for the use of the 15 free categories to encourage people to use public transport. “We will likely add more categories and make them free, so that the cross-subsidy is fairer; those who are less well-off ride for free, while those who are able can pay a slightly higher fare,” Pramono said. In addition to providing free public transport for 15 categories, Pramono is also seeking to increase the number of public transport users by issuing DKI Jakarta Governor’s Instruction Number 6 of 2025, which requires all civil servants to use public transport every Wednesday.