TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned commuter rail operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) or KAI Commuter Director, Asdo Artriviyanto, announced that the government planned to increase the fares of the Greater Jakarta Commuter Line. He said the last time the train fares were raised was in 2016.

“Let’s wait for the date,” Asdo said in a press conference at the KAI Commuter HQ, Juanda Station, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, January 11.

He stressed that the fare hike would be determined by the government as the regulator. “There will be an increase [in train fares], but let’s wait for the date,” he said, refusing to detail whether or not it would be implemented this year.

Adita Irawati, a spokesperson for the Transportation Ministry, confirmed that the ministry had conducted a study on increasing local train fares in early 2022. However, she said further studies were necessary in consideration of the current situation.

“The demand is already high. Profits have started to fall. So, it is quite different in terms of community mobility. We need to study it,” Adita said.

At present, the fare for the Greater Jakarta Commuter Line is Rp3,000 for the first 25 kilometers. There are rumors that it will be raised to Rp5,000, plus Rp1,000 for the next 10 kilometers.

The plan was met with objections, including from the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V member Suryadi Jaya Purnama. He said the tariff increase was not appropriate as people were still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We must reject the plan to increase the basic Commuter Line fare because it is very burdensome for the people,” he said in a written statement on Friday, December 16, 2022.

MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI

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