New Flat Fare Aimed at Eliminating Ghost Ridership Data
The Jakarta Transportation Council (DTKJ) has formally proposed ending the free-fare policy for the city's Mikrotrans feeder minibus service. Under the new recommendation, passengers would be charged a nominal flat rate of IDR 2,000 per trip to establish a more transparent and accountable public transit network across the capital.
Newly inaugurated DTKJ Chairman Sugihardjo clarified that the policy shift is not intended to boost revenue, but rather to clean up ridership statistics. Under the current zero-fare system, the lack of financial transactions creates data vulnerabilities, as recorded passenger numbers may not accurately reflect actual field conditions.
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"Contracts between TransJakarta and fleet operators dictate specific targets for both mileage and passenger counts," Sugihardjo stated at Jakarta City Hall on Friday. He revealed that the free system allows operators to falsely tap passenger cards to artificially meet contractual quotas and avoid financial penalties, a loophole that a paid fare would naturally close.
While the introduction of the IDR 2,000 charge might lead to a statistical dip in recorded passengers, officials emphasize that any decline would simply reflect real demand rather than a loss of actual riders. Alongside the fiscal adjustments, the council noted that TransJakarta must simultaneously address lingering service quality issues to justify the fare implementation.