Number of Homecoming Vehicles to Reach 10 Million

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

The traffic situation on the Cikampek-Jakarta toll road in the Pekayon Jaya area, South Bekasi, Bekasi city, West Java, two Saturdays ago (27/4/2019). The Transportation Ministry has predicted that 10 million private vehicles are to be used during homecoming travel this year.

BANDUNG, KOMPAS — The number of vehicles to be used during Lebaran homecoming travel this year is predicted to reach 10 million. To minimize obstacles during the exodus, traffic is to be engineered. Residents are also asked to be wiser in choosing their modes of transportation.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi emphasized at a Lebaran Transportation Coordination meeting on Tuesday (07/05/2019) in Bandung the importance of creating a smooth flow of vehicles in the homecoming travel this year. Therefore, the government plans to do traffic engineering during the peak of the travel. One of the strategies is the application of a one-way traffic system on the toll road ahead of Idul Fitri. There are also proposals to apply odd-even mechanisms on toll roads to control the number of vehicles.

The Transportation Ministry predicted the number of vehicles in the homecoming travel period this year would increase by 13 percent. It said the number of the four-wheeled vehicles, for example, would reach 3.76 million, while two-wheeled vehicles would reach 6.85 million.

"Now we tend to use the one-way engineering plan because it does not burden citizens like the odd-even setting," said the transportation minister after the meeting.

Previously, at the meeting, the director general of land transportation of the Transportation Ministry, Budi Setiyadi, explained that the implementation of the one-way system would be carried out around the clock from May 30 to June 2, starting at 6 a.m. on the first day out of Jakarta to the east. The route to be engineered is about 230 kilometers from Km 29 (Cikarang Utama) to Km 262 (West Brebes toll road exit gate).

For the backflow, one-way traffic, according to the plan, is to be applied around the clock from June 8 to 10 starting at 6 a.m. on the first day. This engineering is carried out for approximately 160 kilometers from Km 189 (Palimanan) to Km 29 (Cikarang Utama). "If it has been approved, we will announce it through media, banners and advertisements. We hope that the residents will adjust to the homecoming travel schedule so that they are not stuck in traffic,"he said.

Public transportation is also being prepared. Budi Setiyadi said that 4,200 buses, 953 ships, 164 trains and 66 flights would be provided. He asked the transportation office to cooperate with police officers to keep order.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Vehicle density on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road at KM 29 leading into the main Cikarang toll gate, Bekasi, West Java, at about 6:30 p.m. on a Saturday in December (22/12/2018).

In the meeting, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil asked the Transportation Ministry to increase security and facilities on the Cipali toll road, ranging from lighting to resting places.

Kamil also asked the central government to temporarily suspend four major projects that contribute to the traffic jams for vehicles heading to West Java, namely the construction of elevated toll roads, fast trains, light railways and the Cibitung-Cilincing toll road, which intersects with the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road.

CCTV in railway stations and trains

To optimize security for the Lebaran 2019 celebration, besides deploying security officers and 106 personnel of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police, state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia’s Regional Operation II is also increasing the CCTV monitoring in railway stations and trains.

This is intended to anticipate crimes that might befall passengers so that they can be handled faster with digital recordings.

Security is a special concern of PT KAI Regional Operation II, especially as the news of a recent theft of goods belonging to passengers on the trains that transit at the Bandung station went viral.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Vehicles queue in multiple lines to follow a one-way system at the Palimanan toll gate, Cirebon regency, West Java, on a Tuesday in June 2018 (19/6/2018). This one-way policy is to again be used to lessen the long traffic jams during the peak flow of homecoming travel this year.

"Security is applied in layers for the convenience and security of the passengers," said the manager of PT KAI Regional Operation II’s public relation division, Noxy Citrea, on Tuesday in Bandung.

In each train, two special police officers are to be deployed. Every 30 minutes, the officers patrol all train cars.

"On each train, the name of the conductor and his contact number can be available to passengers if there are complaints or when they need help," said Noxy. (RTG/ SEM)