Transjabodetabek Tariff Still Alot Discussed, DKI DPRD: Don't Let Residents Return to Using Private Vehicles 

JAKARTA - The plan to increase the Transjabodetabek tariff will not be decided in the near future. The DKI Jakarta DPRD is still working on the tariff amount with the DKI Provincial Government and PT Transjakarta because the adjustment of the tariff is considered to take into account the fiscal capacity of the region as well as the purchasing power of the community.

Member of Commission B of the DKI Jakarta DPRD M. Taufik said that the discussion of the new tariff was still quite intense. The DPRD together with the DKI Transportation Service and PT Transjakarta will hold a meeting again next week to continue the finalization.

"Regarding the new Transjabodetabek tariff, yes, we are still talking at the last meeting. The finalization of the tariff is still a bit far based on the meeting some time ago, but next week we will meet again," Taufik told reporters, Thursday, July 2.

According to him, the adjustment of tariffs cannot be decided in a hurry. Because, the government must calculate the financial capacity of the region considering that the Transjakarta service is still subsidized through the public service obligation (PSO) scheme.

"So this tariff increase cannot be coaxed, there must be a study because this is related to the first fiscal, the financial ability of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government," he said.

Currently, the fare paid by Transjakarta passengers is Rp3,500 per trip. In fact, the service costs incurred by the operator reach around Rp13,000 per passenger. The difference in costs is borne by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.

In addition to considering the capacity of the APBD, the DPRD also reminded that the new tariff should not make the public abandon public transportation. If the tariff is too high, the target of reducing the use of private vehicles is feared to be missed.

"If, for example, it is raised and then they choose not to ride Transjakarta, then yes, we will lose. Loss in the sense that we are not successful in attracting people to ride public transportation. So they will use private vehicles, motorcycles, and others, so that the congestion continues," said Taufik.

He admitted that the Transjabodetabek tariff could not be compared with the regular Transjakarta service because it served inter-district travel with a longer distance.

"Well, especially those in Transjabodetabek, right. It's out of town. Well, if you go out of town, first of all it should be because the distance is further, it shouldn't be Rp3,500," he said.

Even so, Taufik emphasized that the amount of the tariff must remain within the community's ability. According to him, too high a tariff increase has the potential to make residents in the buffer area choose to use private vehicles again.

"If, for example, the increase is not within the range of the residents' ability, then people outside Jakarta will no longer or choose to use private transportation, yes, no longer use Jabodetabek transportation," said Taufik.

Therefore, the DPRD and the DKI Provincial Government are still looking for a meeting point so that the new tariff can maintain the sustainability of public transportation subsidies without reducing public interest in using the Transjabodetabek service.