S

tate-owned toll-road operator Jasa Marga claims that the increase in intra-city toll rates starting Friday midnight will go toward improving its infrastructure and services.

The rises are between 6 and 10 percent and are introduced biennially in line with regional inflation rates.

Jasa Marga corporate secretary Agus Setiawan said the government had approved the toll increases after evaluating its standard service achievement. Inflation rose 3.02 percent in the first half of this year from the same period in 2016.

“The toll increase is beneficial for improving our service, and eventually supporting expansion and securitization,” Agus said, adding that most of the additional funds would go toward improving and expanding services and infrastructure of the roads as well as rest areas.

Jasa Marga said it was still looking for room to improve by integrating toll road sections, erecting more traffic signs and barriers, as well as adding more security cameras by the end of 2018. The new rates will apply on five toll-road sections, namely Cawang-Tomang-Pluit in Jakarta; Surabaya-Gempol and Semarang-sections A,B and C in East Java; Belawan-Medan-Tanjung Morawa in North Sumatra; and Palimanan-Kanci in West Java.

The highest rise is on the Belawan-Medan-Tanjung Morawa section with a 10 percent hike to an average of Rp 8,000 (59 US cents), while in Jakarta the toll will increase to Rp 9,500.

The five sections are among nine sections whose toll hikes have been approved of by the Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT).

Jasa Marga last increased its intra-city tolls in 2015. That year, it increased rates by 15 percent. However, Jasa Marga assistant vice president of maintenance Mery N. Panjaitan said the extra revenue provided real results.

“In the span of two years, we have increased lane capacity, set up new posts and increased electronic toll-road payments [GTO] to 100 percent, upgraded equipment and also reconstructed the expansion joints,” explained Mery.

However, consumer groups have criticized the BPJT’s decision to approve the toll hikes, as the toll-road operators should improve their services before any increase could be justified.

“The jump in volume is not in line with traffic controls, causing a new wave of heavy congestion. The toll increases should be in parallel with traffic improvements,” said Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) chairman Tulus Abadi in a press statement.

However, commuters seem to take the hike in their stride. Nara Nilandaroe, 50, who regularly drives from Tangerang, Banten, to his office in Kuningan, South Jakarta, said it used to take him four hours on the road but now it only took half that time.

“It is so much better, especially after the Karang Tengah gate was removed,” he said. (sha)