Transportation body wants 50% fare hike

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Public Transportation Owners (Organda) city branch has urged the city to raise intercity bus fares by 50 percent for the Idul Fitri holidays.

The request was higher than the 25 percent increase set by the Ministry of Transportation in December for 16 days before, during and after Idul Fitri which is on Feb. 9 and 10.

Organda chairman Aip Syarifuddin said yesterday a 50 percent increase was needed to stop public transport operators increasing fares illegally.

"I guarantee if the administration agreed to raise fares by 50 percent, bus operators would not violate the regulation," Aip said.

The increase would help guarantee passengers a more comfortable trip and prevent fares from getting out of control, he said.

Yesterday, Deputy Governor on administrative affairs Idroes predicted three million people would leave Jakarta for Idul Fitri.

Travelers often say they have to pay up to three times the regular fare to get to their hometowns without being guaranteed a seat. Often they pay regulated fares at ticket boxes but are charged additional fares on the way.

Almost every year most bus operators suffer losses because their buses were empty on their way back to Jakarta, Aip said.

"The hike is needed to offset losses incurred when buses return empty after carrying people out of major cities," he said.

He acknowledged bus operators were allowed to carry 10 percent more passengers than their seating capacity.

"Even though the capacity is increased, we will still suffer losses," Aip said.

If the administration allowed a 50 percent increase, bus operators would get more profit while passengers would get better trips, he said.

The special fares will be imposed from 6 a.m. on Feb. 13 until 6 a.m. on March 2, and will be based on current bus fares.

Aip urged bus operators to use their regular drivers instead of hiring new ones to guarantee travelers' safety. Several drivers make passengers leave the bus a long way from their destinations.

"Bus operators should not abandon passengers," Aip said.

The head of the City Land Transportation Control Agency J.P. Sepang earlier estimated 1.6 million travelers would use intercity buses. The state railway company, Perumka, said it was providing 169,000 seats a day for travelers from Jakarta.

The city administration will operate 9,397 buses during the Idul Fitri holidays including 2,095 buses which usually ply city routes.

Aip urged the city not to allow regular buses to stand next to extra buses in the extra 15 terminals, added to the four regular ones. He said people would try to use regular buses even when they were full. But passengers say they prefer regular buses because drivers on the extra buses are less familiar with intercity routes. This is why regular buses become overcrowded.

In the holiday season, drivers are required to get temporary permits and display a green sticker on their buses to prevent buses operating illegally. Their operating permits will be revoked if they are found without the permits.

Like last year the lack of intercity roads compared to travelers is still predicted to cause severe traffic congestion on Java's north coast and in East and West Jakarta.

Deputy Governor Idroes suggested businesses provide transportation for homecoming employees to prevent an explosion of passengers at bus terminals and train stations.

People should try to leave early and not bring back relatives or friends, Idroes said.

The City Population Office estimates 3.5 million Jakartans go to their hometowns each Idul Fitri and return with 300,000 relatives and friends looking for work.

The newcomers, especially those who are unskilled, often end up as street vendors, beggars or vagabonds. (ste)