JAKARTA. Less than one month after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo increased subsidized-fuel prices, a number of taxi operators in Jakarta have started to adjust fares by around 25 percent.

Express Group, which operates Express, Eagle and Tiara Express taxis, was among those who have adjusted the flagfall to Rp 7,500 (60 US cents) from Rp 6,000 previously.

Pancoran resident Astrid Isnawati, 30, said that she was having to pay extra for taxis from home to her office in Permata Hijau, South Jakarta.

“Last night I paid Rp 74,000, it used to be around Rp 50,000,” she told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

She admitted that she only used taxis under certain circumstances, such as when she was in a rush or when it was raining, while normally she used public transportation. However, the increase in taxi fares had forced her to reevaluate her commuting policy.

“Starting next month I will be working at a new office, which is located in Kuningan. It is closer to home but the public transportation options are not flexible. I am thinking about taking driving lessons and taking my car to the office because the expense will be about the same,” she said.

Sharing the sentiment, Inayah Agustin, who is pregnant, said the taxi-fare increase would narrow her transportation options.

“I should seriously think about other options before my belly gets even bigger. It will be too tiresome to take a bus,” she said on her Twitter account @inayahagustin.

Another taxi regular, Lika Aprilia, who lives in a rented apartment in West Jakarta, said she preferred to move closer to her office.

“I am looking for a new apartment closer to my office in Central Jakarta to save time and transportation money,” she said.

The Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) Jakarta chapter chairman, Shafruhan Sinungan, acknowledged the organization and Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama had signed a letter to adjust taxi fares on Dec. 4.

“The governor has approved the taxi-fare adjustment, setting the flagfall ceiling at Rp 8,500 from the previous Rp 7,000, and the fare per kilometer at Rp 4,600, up from Rp 4,000,” he told the Post.

Meanwhile, he continued, the taxi-fare floor was determined by the Organda Jakarta chapter based on an agreement among taxi operators grouped under the Organda taxi unit management.

“The taxi flagfall floor has been set at Rp 7,500, up from Rp 6,000, while the fare per kilometer is now Rp 4,000, up from Rp 3,600. Meanwhile, the waiting charges have been set at Rp 48,000 and 55,000 depending on the fare,” he said.

Despite the adjustment being approved, he said that several taxi operators would take some time before implementing the new fares.

Blue Bird Group spokesman Teguh Wijayanto said the company had yet to set a date for when Blue Bird taxi fares would be adjusted.

“We are in the process of disseminating the adjustment to our drivers. It might take some time,” he said, declining to provide details. (Sita W Dewi)

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie