NEGARA ~

Drivers of public transport in Jembrana complained passenger fares, which are difficult to adjust following the hike of fuel price.

“When fuel price goes up, officially public transport fares also increased. But the reality passengers often do not want to pay according to the new charges,” said one dirver in Negara Bus Sation, on Wednesday.

He said, he and the other driver were forced to accept any payment from the passengers, though not as big as the proper rates due to small number of passengers.

Before the rise in fuel prices, the official rate trajectory from Jembrana to  Gilimanuk station was  Rp10 thousand, but almost all passengers pay under it.

“They are only willing to pay Rp6,000, we were forced to accept. If it was rejected, the passenger will seek other public transportation,” he said.

Therefore, by the increase in fuel prices, although later there will be an adjustment of rates from Land Transportation Organization (Organda) and the government, he was pessimistic about the passenger will pay the fare accordingly.

But according to him, the ideal tariff lines to Gilimanuk is Rp14 thousand to Rp15 thousand, because the driver’s expense is much greater than before.

He said, before the rising of fuel prices, for three times on the route he spent Rp100 thousand to buy fuel.

“Now I have to spend Rp160 thousand for the same and the number of trips,” he said.

While the Secretary of the Organda Jembrana Anak Agung Oka Diputra said, he will adjust the rates soon.

He said the transport driver of colt actually have Denpasar-Gilimanuk trajectory, so that the tariff adjustment following the decision Organda Bali Province.

Related to the payment of passengers who do not fit with the fare, he said, the driver often helpless when passengers bargain fare under official rates, since there were not so many passangers.

“Instead of having no passengers, the driver receives passenger fare though far below the official rate. And we cannot intervene this problem, because it is between driver and passengers,” he said.