Jakarta - Institute for Development of Economics and Finance economist Eko Listiyanto said the plan to provide a 20 percent discount on toll rates could help travelers during this year's Eid, especially those from the lower middle class.
"I think it is necessary to have a discount on toll rates during Eid. First, the toll rate discount helps the community because with cheaper toll rates, of course travelers as toll road users will benefit," said Eko when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta, Tuesday.
In addition, he also added that the toll rate discount during Eid is also a compensation to toll road users for the congestion that occurs, because the traffic flow during the Eid homecoming period is not as smooth as during normal times.
"But in general, discounts are needed for toll rates and that can make the simulation or engineering of the homecoming arrangement smoother. So, for example, toll rate discounts can be placed at times that are, for example, a little longer than the peak of the homecoming and return flows. Thus, this can stimulate travelers, especially for the lower middle class," he said.
Providing toll rate discounts can help lower-middle class people such as migrants in Jakarta who work in the informal sector such as meatball sellers and so on to be able to return to their hometowns earlier via toll roads.
"Toll rate discounts will encourage travelers, especially informal workers, to return to their hometowns earlier," said Eko.
However, the provision of toll tariff discounts during the Eid homecoming, especially regarding the amount, needs to be discussed between the government and the Toll Road Business Entity.
The Ministry of Public Works (PU) together with the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polkam) and related Ministries/Institutions (K/L) held a Coordination Meeting to Discuss Readiness to Welcome the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1446 H.
Deputy Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Lodewijk F. Paulus, who led the meeting, said that coordination was carried out to ensure that the implementation of President Prabowo's policies regarding the implementation of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1446 H had been carried out by the relevant Ministries/Institutions, including one of which was regarding the homecoming flow policy and the existence of toll tariff discounts.