GILIMANUK ~ Drivers of trucks and passenger buses are feeling the impact of a rise in fares for the Ketapang-Gilimanuk boat crossing, an official at Gilimanuk said this week.

Miskun, a Java-Bali truck driver, said that even tough the fares had increased the standard of service was the same as before.

“The only service available on the ferry is when parking. When the government decides to raise the fares, they should also raise the standard of service,” he said.

The fares on the Gilimanuk-Ketapang crossing increased in April this year so an increase from July 1 drew even more complaints.

Tickets went from Rp5,000 to Rp5,500 for adults and Rp3,500 to Rp4,000 for children, which makes the total increase for this year over 4 percent.

Operational Manager of Gilimanuk River, Lake and Crossover Cargo (ASDP) Ospar Silaban said that the increasing of the fares was in line with a decree by the minister of transport.