Two Decades Unchanged, Should Transjakarta Tariffs Be Increased?

Transjakarta buses pass through the HI Roundabout area, Jakarta, Friday (2/8/2024). The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government plans to increase the Transjakarta tariff from Rp. 3,500 to Rp. 5,000. (ANTARA/Fauzan/rwa)

The discourse on increasing Transjakarta rates from Rp. 3,500 to Rp. 5,000 is considered a normal thing. Tariffs have not been increased since 2005.

The plan to increase the tariff for Transjakarta bus services was put forward by the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Pramono Anung some time ago. One of the reasons for this plan is because now the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of Jakarta has covered tariff subsidies of more than Rp. 9,000 per ticket.

Pramono assessed that the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government could not bear the Transjakarta tariff subsidy continuously. Therefore, the option to increase the tariff is now a consideration.

"Right now, the subsidy of each ticket is actually above Rp. 9,000. It's impossible for us to be alone again and again," said Pramono in the Blok M area, South Jakarta, Monday (27/10/2025).

However, it is not certain when the Transjakarta tariff increase can be done.

Since its inauguration in 2005, Transjakarta has been one of the favorite public transportation for Jakarta residents. Slowly but surely, Transjakarta services extend to buffer cities, namely Tangerang, Bekasi, and Bogor.

According to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in February 2024, as many as 6.704 million residents in Jabodetabek need the provision of public transportation services every day.

The number of commuting public transport passengers (passengers per day) for Transjakarta is 1.17 million passengers in 2023. Then followed by Jabodetabek KRL 952,000 passengers, MRT Jakarta 278,955 passengers, and Jabodebek LRT 55,442 passengers (in 2022).

Transjakarta's own rates have not increased since 2005 or for two decades since this service was launched. In fact, this is not the first time the discourse of increasing Transjakarta rates has been echoed. If it is traced back, this discourse has been heard since 2020.

The need for tariff adjustments was recommended by the Jakarta City Transportation Council (DTKJ) when meeting the Governor of Jakarta Pramono Anung at the Jakarta City Hall on April 29, 2025. The DTKJ's proposal at that time was that the Transjakarta tariff rose to Rp4,000 and Rp5,000 during peak time, 07.01-10.00 WIB and 16.01 to 21.00 WIB.

The Jakarta Provincial Government disburses subsidies of up to IDR 6 trillion annually for public service obligation (PSO) Transjakarta, MRT Jakarta, and LRT Jakarta.

In 2023, Transjakarta had experienced a reduction in subsidies of Rp336 billion from the initial proposal of Rp3.9 trillion. Even so, this efficiency actually results in more optimal performance every year.

In 2024, Transjakarta managed to reduce the subsidy ratio to only Rp9,831 per passenger. Whereas previously, ticket subsidies in 2022 reached Rp16,800 and in 2023 it reached Rp11,400 per subscription. That means, the provincial government must bear most operational costs so that public transportation remains affordable.

The issue of increasing Transjakarta rates has become more widespread after the allocation of profit-sharing funds (DBH) from the central government for Jakarta has been cut. To note, DHB Jakarta has decreased significantly from the original target of Rp26 trillion to Rp11 trillion. As a result, Jakarta's APBD posture next year must be revised. This budget revision can be balanced on public transportation subsidies.

Head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Syafrin Liputo, said that the plan to increase Transjakarta rates is still being studied in depth. Based on data, the cost recovery is getting lower, only 14 percent at this time, so tariff adjustments are needed.

Cost recovery is the return of operational costs. The Jakarta Provincial Government is seeking adjustments to increase the cost recovery.

Deputy Chairperson of the Empowerment and Development of the Indonesian Transportation Society Region (MTI) Central Djoko Setijowarno assessed that the increase in Transjakarta public transport rates is a must.

The reason is, it has been more than 20 years since the rapid transit bus (BRT) rate has not increased and is still IDR 3,500 per passenger.

"Maybe this is a tariff that doesn't go up the longest in the world. The rate of not rising is also not good," he said.

He considers the increase in Transjakarta tariffs to be IDR 5,000 per trip should not be a problem, because currently the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has provided leniency in tariffs for 15 groups of passengers.

They are civil servants of the Jakrta Provincial Government, residents of the flats, so house of worship administrators can enjoy Free Service Cards (KLG).

"Usually when it goes up, 15 groups scream. Now they are free. So it doesn't have any effect. Plus, almost every year UMR also goes up, so it's okay," said Djoko.