Walhi: Transjabodetabek Fare Hike Could Push Residents Back to Private Cars

Jakarta's provincial government intends to adjust Transjabodetabek public transport fares in the near future. Officials cite the substantial subsidy burden for these services connecting to Jakarta's buffer zones as the reason for the planned adjustment. However, the environmental group Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (Walhi) strongly opposes the move. Walhi's Executive Director, Muhammad Aminullah, stated that the fare increase runs counter to Jakarta's efforts to control air pollution and transform urban transportation systems. He warned that higher fares could discourage public transport use and encourage a return to private vehicles. "The plan to increase Transjabodetabek fares contradicts the Jakarta government's efforts to control air pollution," Aminullah said in a statement. He noted that the government has been working to improve public transport infrastructure to shift mobility away from private cars. The fare hike, he argued, risks undermining this goal, especially as Jakarta grapples with serious air quality issues. Air quality monitoring consistently shows Jakarta experiencing unhealthy air on most days throughout the year. Transportation emissions from private vehicles are a major contributor to this pollution. Encouraging a shift to public transport is therefore a critical strategy for reducing transport sector emissions. Currently, public transport usage in Jakarta remains relatively low, at about 23.4 percent, despite claims that services reach about 90 percent of the city. "In such a situation, a fare increase risks becoming a disincentive for people to switch to public transport," Aminullah stated. He added that the provincial government should not hide behind the narrative of high subsidy costs. Public transport, he emphasized, should be viewed not just as a fiscal expense but as a social and ecological investment yielding greater benefits for the city, including reduced traffic congestion, lower emissions, improved air quality, and public health savings.