Transjakarta Fare Adjustment Merits Study to Ensure Service Sustainability
Reported by Fakhrizal Fakhri | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
Proposals for adjusting Transjakarta fares have re-emerged as public transit funding requirements in Jakarta continue to rise.
Transjakarta fares have remained static for more than twenty years
This policy is deemed a viable step for the Jakarta administration to reduce subsidy expenditures in the regional budget and safeguard the continuity of public transportation services.
Urban Policy Analyst, Zulfikar Marikar considers a review of Transjakarta fare adjustments to be a reasonable step. He pointed out that the fare has remained fixed at Rp 3,500 since operations commenced in 2005. This stagnant pricing makes Transjakarta’s fare one of the most affordable compared to public transportation services in other major Southeast Asian metropolises.
Transjakarta Adjusts Routes 4B and D21 Due to Road Damage"Transjakarta fares have remained static for more than twenty years, even as operational costs increase and service quality advances," he remarked, Wednesday (6/10).
He explained that Transjakarta’s operational costs have steadily risen alongside service expansion, fleet additions, intermodal integration, and the development of digital payment systems. On the other hand, the Jakarta government must allocate substantial subsidies annually to sustain these operations.
He noted that for the City Budget (APBD) 2026, the Transjakarta subsidy has been set at Rp 3.75 trillion—roughly 4.6 percent of Jakarta’s total regional budget by Rp 81.32 trillion.
In recent years, Transjakarta has seen a substantial transformation in its service delivery. The expansion of its network, the introduction of green fleets, and the reinforcement of transit integration have driven an increase in the number of users.
Further, he emphasized Jakarta’s progress in the sector, noting that the Time Out 2025 international survey ranked Jakarta’s transit system 17th globally.
"This milestone underscores the tangible improvements in public transport quality felt by the community," he remarked.
He furthered that Transjakarta currently serves about 1.4 million passengers per day. This statistic indicates that the service has evolved from an alternative transportation option into an essential mainstay for the mobility of Jakartans.
Beyond intra-city travel, Transjakarta manages various intercity routes via the Transjabodetabek service, connecting the capital to its surrounding buffer zones, including Bekasi, Depok, Bogor, Tangerang, and South Tangerang.
"The expansion of the network bolsters Transjakarta’s position as the transit backbone of the metropolitan area, yet it also escalates operational financing needs," he elaborated.
In light of enhanced service standards and robust passenger volumes, Zulfikar suggests that a phased and calculated fare adjustment is worthy of exploration.
"Such adjustments ought to be perceived as a mechanism to safeguard the continuity of public transit and fortify regional finances, not simply as a further imposition on the community," he remarked.
However, he underscored that such a policy must remain sensitive to the social protection needs of vulnerable populations. Thereby, free Transjakarta access for 15 specific groups, as mandated by Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation No. 33/2025, must be preserved to optimize subsidy allocation.
He believes that a targeted subsidy framework for priority segments will facilitate a strategic equilibrium between regional fiscal health and the provision of affordable public transit for the community.
"Ultimately, as a greater portion of Jakarta's budget is consumed by operational subsidies, the available fiscal room to finance other critical areas—including education, health, flood control, and infrastructure—inevitably narrows.
Further, he emphasized that Jakarta needs a transit system that transcends mere affordability; it must be financially sustainable, modern, and equipped to serve the public's mobility requirements in the long run."
"Therefore, the plan for Transjakarta fare adjustments deserves a serious study, taking into account the public's economic conditions, service quality, and regional fiscal sustainability. The deliberations must also be conducted openly and transparently, supported by adequate public outreach to ensure the public understands the urgency of this policy," he concluded.
