Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Dozens of the Kaukus Peduli Jalan Tol (Toll Road Concerned Caucus) activists rallied outside the office of Cikupa-Merak toll road operator PT Marga Mandala Sakti (MMS) in Cikupa, Tangerang on Thursday to protest a 58 percent increase in toll rates.

"We warn the operator against collecting money from commuters until the toll road and its facilities are repaired," rally coordinator Uyus Setiabakti said.

The protesters were about to unfurl a banner which read "Gratiskan Jalan Toll" (Free Toll Road) at the Cikupa toll gates but hundreds of police officers foiled them.

During the rally, the activists also demanded that the government terminate the contract awarded to PT MMS, discipline police officers who frequently collected illegal levy on the toll road and conduct a laboratory test on materials used by the company to build the toll road.

In response to the protest, PT MMS spokeswoman Indah Permanasari said the activists had barked up the wrong tree.

"We are just the operator and the toll rate hike is already final because the government has decided it," she said. She added the company was conducting a major reconstruction of the Tangerang-Merak toll road, which is expected to finish in 2014.