JAKARTA. The government is set to raise fares for the Surabaya-Gresik toll road in East Java, one of the main roads on Java’s northern coastal highway (Pantura), which connects Jakarta and Surabaya, by up to 40 percent starting Wednesday next week.

The head of supervision and monitoring at the Public Works Ministry’s Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT), Kornel Sihaloho, said on Wednesday that the toll-road fares were adjusted following the construction of new lanes and lane widening works on the toll road.

Based on Ministerial Decree No. 242 on the Surabaya-Gresik toll-road fare adjustment, the fare for all four-wheeled vehicles classified under Group 1 will increase by 33 percent, from Rp 9,000 (71 US cents) to Rp 12,000, next week.

The greatest increase is slated for Group 2, which comprises six-wheeled vehicles, whose fares will increase by 40 percent, from Rp 12,500 to Rp 17,500.

For Group 3 — 10-wheeled vehicles with three axles — and Group 4 — trailer-trucks — fares will increase by 30.5 percent and 31 percent, respectively, from Rp 18,000 to Rp 23.500, and from Rp 22,500 to Rp 35.500.

Trailers, which fall within Group 5, will be subject to a new fare of Rp 35,500, a 31.4 percent increase from Rp 27,000.

Following the fare increases, the toll road operator, PT Margabumi Martaraya, is expected to see an increase of 25 percent in daily revenue from the toll road.

The firm’s financial director Fanny, who goes by one name only, said that around 75,000 vehicles used the Surabaya-Gresik toll road everyday.

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie