TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of taxi operators in the capital have begun raising their tariffs following increased fuel prices. Taxi company Blue Bird spokesman Teguh Wijaya said the company had applied the new tariff beginning December 5, 2014.

“We have increased [the tariff] in compliance with the government regulation. The raise was also aimed at increasing our drivers’ income,” he told Tempo on Monday, December 15, 2014.

He said the company raised its tariff to cope with the fuel price hike, and that customers would be charged Rp7,500 upon entering the cab. “It’s only Rp500 in increase from the previous tariff,” he said.

Teguh added under the new tariff passengers would be charged Rp4,000 per kilometer—increasing only by Rp400 from the previous fare—and waiting charge was now set at Rp48,000, up by Rp6,000 from the previous charge.

Another taxi operator, Express, has also introduced a new set of fares. “The increase was made by allowing for the provincial minimum wage besides the increased fuel prices,” he said.

He explained passengers would be charged Rp7,500 when entering a cab—up by Rp1,000 from the previous fare, while the tariff per kilometer and waiting charge were set at the same figures to Blue Bird’s.

AMOS SIMANUNGKALIT