Transjakarta: PSO Required to Keep Thousand Islands Ferry Fares Affordable
PT Transjakarta has disclosed that revenue from maritime transport tickets in the Thousand Islands is insufficient to cover operational costs. Ticket revenue is reported to cover only approximately 15 per cent of the total allocated costs.
This was stated by the President Director of PT Transjakarta, Welfizon Yuza, during a working meeting with Commission B of the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) discussing Transjakarta’s plan to manage maritime transport in the Thousand Islands, Jakarta, on Wednesday (2/9/2026). He stated that managing maritime transport with tariffs that remain affordable for the community requires Public Service Obligation (PSO) support.
“As long as the tariffs are regulated to be affordable for the public, it certainly cannot be done without PSO. PSO support will definitely be needed,” Welfizon said during the meeting.
Welfizon then presented the financing conditions of the maritime transport services currently managed by the Jakarta Provincial Transportation Agency. Based on preliminary studies and information gathered by Transjakarta, ticket revenue is only able to cover a small portion of operational costs.
“Based on the shared information from the current management by the Transportation Agency, the cost recovery ratio from the collected tickets is only about 1/6 or 15 per cent of the total costs allocated in the Regional Budget (APBD),” he said.
He explained that maritime transport services are currently managed by an implementing unit (UP), meaning ticket revenue is calculated as a levy and regulated according to levy provisions. However, when compared to production or operational costs, ticket revenue remains far from sufficient.
“But if we compare what percentage of tickets can cover production or operational costs, currently, with the tickets mentioned earlier, it is only about 1/6,” he explained.
Welfizon stated that Transjakarta is currently preparing a study regarding the planned assignment for maritime transport management. This study includes strategies, the form of the entity, and legal aspects.
He mentioned that the first phase of the study is targeted for completion by the end of September 2026. Subsequently, discussions will continue in the second phase from approximately October to mid-November.
“Later, regarding what the Chairman mentioned regarding tariffs, PSO, financing, and other matters, we request permission and time; we will report at the end of this month,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Jakarta Provincial Transportation Agency, Budi Awaluddin, emphasised that the plan for integrated maritime transport management must be oriented towards improving services for the Thousand Islands community.
According to him, the residents of the Thousand Islands are part of Jakarta and have the same rights to obtain public services, including safe, comfortable, affordable transportation with schedule certainty.
“The main spirit of this policy is to provide the best transportation service for the Thousand Islands community,” said Budi.
He emphasised that the Jakarta Provincial Government is not solely focused on which party will eventually become the ship operator. Aspects of regulation, institutional framework, supervision, safety, and the division of authority must be ensured first.
“We are not actually chasing who manages the ships, but rather how the Thousand Islands community can obtain better transportation or transport services,” he added.