Two cents worth

Two cents worth

The rebuke the Parking Management Agency of Jakarta has
addressed to private parking management companies violating the
provision on parking rates, reflects the inability of the city
administration to manage private parking affairs. While on the
one hand the city administration has complained that private
parking management companies have failed to contribute to the
coffers of the city administration, it has on the other hand
pushed private parking management companies to lower their rates.

It is true that recent public complaints about the raise in
parking rates must be answered by setting appropriate rates.
However, this does not mean that there must be uniform rates for
the entire capital.

The city administration must be able to make a distinction
between the parking rates at public places such as markets,
government offices and road-side parking areas, and those rates
at shopping centers, hotels and private office buildings. A
distinction can also be made between the parking rates imposed
downtown and in the suburbs. In fact, by setting higher rates at
particular locations, the city administration would be able to
earn more from parking for its coffers.

Therefore, the city administration should not handle parking
affairs in the capital in a simplistic manner by passing uniform
rates. Instead, it should first study the problem comprehensively
and profoundly. I hope this will letter will provide a bit of
healthy input for the city administration.

AMIR SIDHARTA

Jakarta