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Taxi fares unchanged despite lower fuel price
Taxi fares in Jakarta are not to be adjusted, despite the decrease in the Premium gasoline price, the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) has decided
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axi fares in Jakarta are not to be adjusted, despite the decrease in the Premium gasoline price, the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) has decided.
In a letter that will be sent to Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, Organda will report the result of its plenary meeting on public transportation fares after the Premium gasoline price was reduced to Rp 6,600 (56 US cents) from Rp 7,600.
'Taxi flag falls remain between Rp 7,500 and Rp 8,000 for floor and ceiling fares, with tariff-per-kilometer set at between Rp 4,000 and Rp 4,600,' read the letter, signed by Organda chairman Shafruhan Sinungan.
The letter contained proposals to reduce public transportation fares by Rp 500; with medium-sized bus fares decreased to Rp 7,000 from Rp 7,500; bus fares to Rp 9,000 from Rp 9,500 and minivans to Rp 3,500 from Rp 4,000.
Shafruhan said that the decrease was not burdensome because the fuel-prices accounted for just 20 percent of operational costs.
'According to our calculation, the fares should be reduced by Rp 200 but we set it at Rp 500 instead to ease [the burden on] drivers,' he said.
He also called on public transportation operators to apply the new fares soon after Ahok approves them.
'We will submit it to the Governor tomorrow [Tuesday] so it may be approved the day after tomorrow. We have calculated it and it won't hurt the business,' he said, adding that the new fares would be evaluated after three months.
'Fuel prices will change depending on the oil price, but it is impossible to adjust every two weeks, so we will evaluate it every three months,' he said.
Many passengers are already reportedly lowering the fares paid to public minivans and minibuses after the decrease in fuel prices.
Earlier in the day, Ahok repeated the city administration's proposal to take over the management of public transportation in Jakarta.
'The city will pay operators for every kilometer they serve, so private operators won't have to worry about suffering from potential losses due to the fluctuating oil price,' he said.
The city's proposal to take over the management of public transportation in the capital is aimed at improving public transportation in Jakarta.
On Jan. 1, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo reduced the subsidy for gasoline, but implemented a fixed subsidy of Rp 1,000 per liter for diesel. The price of Premium later fell to Rp 7,600 per liter and then to Rp 6,600, thanks to the drop in global oil prices.
'JP/Sita W. Dewi
