Transportation Entrepreneurs Ask The Government To Cancel The Increase In Truck Rates On The Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road

Jalan Tol. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Association of Indonesian Multimodal Transport Companies (PPMTI) has asked the government to cancel the planned increase in truck rates on the Jakarta-Cikampek (Japek) Toll Road.

PPMTI Secretary General Kyatmaja Lookman said the plan to increase the tariff for the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road for class II, III, IV, and V types of trucks felt burdensome especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

"If the toll rate is raised, it will affect the sustainability of the business of transporting goods. The increase in tariffs for trucks has a major and burdensome effect," said Kyatmaja as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, November 18.

He considered that the policy of implementing the integrated tariff for the Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road with the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road was unfair because elevated toll users benefited, but not for trucks that were not allowed to ride on the elevated toll roads.

"This is a global sweeping policy, the problem is that the truck will not climb onto the elevated toll road. In implementing this policy, the government must be more selective and fair," he said.

According to him, the government's plan to impose an integrated tariff on the two toll roads is good enough, but it is detrimental to truck-type vehicles that have to bear the burden of small vehicles that ride the Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road.

"The beneficiaries are small vehicles that go up (elevated toll roads) but in the implementation we are told to bear only the burden. Even though those who climb above are only group one," he said.

He also said that the reason for smooth traffic due to the operation of the elevated toll road as the basis for the tariff increase was inappropriate because not all fleets were operating during the pandemic so that the current mobility on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road was not fully normal.

"Traffic jams still, this is just smooth because of the pandemic. Try if it's normal, it will definitely jammed too. Those who do activities in industrial areas use Japek below instead of Japek Layang," he said.

He asked the government to be more sensitive in identifying problems because based on data, the number of trucks passing on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road is only five percent while 95 percent are small vehicles.

"This truck is considered the source of congestion, but we are asked to share the burden for friends (vehicles) who do not want this jam. If we want to be fair, we can go upstairs, if not allowed, do not burden us," he said.

It is known that PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk plans to impose integrated tariffs on the Jakarta-Cikampek II Elevated Toll Road or the Elevated Toll Road with the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road. As a result, the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll rate for trucks starting in categories II, III, IV, and V on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road has increased. The tariff increase starts from IDR 4,000-IDR 10,000.

Regional Jasamarga Transjawa Tollroad Division Head Reza Febriano explained that the increase in tariffs for short distances and trucks was accompanied by increased facilities. In addition, because there has been an increase in the average speed, especially at the Cikunir to West Karawang Interchange in both directions after the operation of the Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road section.

"So a significant change in average speed after the elevated toll road in the SS Cikunir-West Bekasi segment increased by 112.9 percent from 26.27 KM per hour to 55.93 KM per hour and the Bekasi Barat-Bekasi East segment increased by 58, 5 percent from 31.83 KM per hour to 47.28 KM per hour, "he said.

Reza explained that improving services for Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road users is one way of ensuring that toll road maintenance works such as scrapping, filling, overlay and pavement reconstruction are continuously carried out.

"Maintenance activities to meet the minimum service standards for toll roads will be carried out continuously with a priority scale in the implementation," he said.