Trans-Sumatra Gears up for Idul Fitri Exodus

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The operators of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road are making preparations to ensure smooth traffic during the Idul Fitri holiday season. Motorists using the half-finished toll road should be aware of traffic congestion in certain sections, the lack of resting areas and the possibility of street crimes.

BANDAR LAMPUNG, KOMPAS — The government continues to improve the condition of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road to ensure that the newly developed road linking Bakauheni in Lampung and Palembang in South Sumatra can be used seven days before Idul Fitri.

Motorists should anticipate the possibility of traffic congestion in certain sections of the road, the lack of resting areas and street crime when using the 366-kilometer toll road. The Transportation Ministry’s Research and Development Agency estimates that the number of vehicles using the toll road would reach 88,335 during this year’s Idul Fitri holiday season.

The toll road has not been in full operation, except the segment linking Bakauheni and Terbanggi Besar (139.9 km). The segment linking Terbanggi Besar, Pematang Panggang and Kayu Agung is being improved so that it can be temporarily used for the annual holiday, while the section linking Kayu Agung and Palembang is still under construction.

According to the Kompas’ observances from Tuesday to Saturday, the operators of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road are working hard to improve the road condition and to build temporary resting areas and temporary gas stations on some parts of the road.

When reviewing the condition of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road on Tuesday, the chief expert for development monitoring and evaluation of the National Priority Program for Infrastructure at the President’s Office, Febry Calvin Tetelepta, said the interest of the people for using the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road was quite high. Apart from being interested in trying out the new toll road, the high price of airplane tickets would also motivate them turn to land transportation.

Separately, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said that travelers could use the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road from Bakauheni to Palembang. However, the Pematang Panggang - Kayu Agung-Palembang segment has not been completed. There are sections that have not been paved with asphalt and are still in the form of dirt roads. However, they can be temporarily used from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but not at night because of a lack of lighting.

Although not yet completed, the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road can cut Bandar Lampung to Palembang travel time by up to six hours, much faster than using the East Sumatra route, which can take about 12 hours.

However, a number of issues, such as potential congestion, need to be anticipated. Congestion can occur in a number of exits because of the narrowing of the lanes or damage to the road connecting the toll road to non-toll roads. Certain locations are prone to traffic jams, such as at the Bakauheni toll gate, because many vehicles enter at the same time after getting off the ferry.

In addition, congestion caused by the narrowing of the road can also occur at the exit gates of Pematang Patang, Pematang Panggang, Kayu Agung and Jakabaring, Palembang, South Sumatra. The traffic jams may occur because of damage to the road at the exit of the Kota Baru toll road.

Emergency resting areas

Another thing that has the potential to disrupt the homebound travel is the lack of rest areas on the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road.

From Bakauheni to Palembang, there are only temporary resting areas. There are 11 emergency rest areas that have been built from Bakauhenihingga to Pematang Panggang. In the emergency facilities, containers are to be used as prayer rooms, rest rooms and canteens. There are also public toilets and mobile gas stations provided by Pertamina.

Nearby residents are also putting up tent stalls that provide food, drinks, toilets and restrooms. However, drivers must park their vehicles on the shoulder of the road and that can trigger congestion if there is a buildup of vehicles at the emergency rest areas.

A sales executive at Pertamina’s unit in South Sumatra, Ferry Fernando, said he guarantees the fuel needs of travelers on the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road would be met. "We are preparing Pertamax and Solar Dex, but the amount in each rest area is different, 3 kiloliters to 5 kiloliters," he said.

Pertamina also sells prepackaged gasoline in 5 liters and 10 liters. Travelers still need to carry backup fuel to anticipate shortages because there is no rest area in the Kayuagung-Palembang section.

Other problems that need to be anticipated are crimes that may occur on several toll roads, such as on the Tulang Bawang, Lampung and Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra routes. On non-toll roads in this area, crimes often take place, such as armed robbery.

This situation cannot be separated from the lack of street lighting and the absence of fences that isolate the toll road areas from plantation land. The toll roads are mostly located far from residential areas.

The secretary of the South Sumatra Logistics Shipping Services Association, Haris Jumadi, admitted that truck drivers were often robbed on the Eastern Lane in the Mesuji area, located at the border of Lampung and South Sumatra. There a potential crime would shift to the toll road.

Snipers

To improve security, Haris proposed that the police carry out highway patrols and provide security guards at toll gates and said the provision of call centers is also needed.

Related to that, South Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Zulkarnain Adinegara said he guaranteed the travelers would be protected against crimes. A total of 2,000 police officers, including snipers, are to be deployed.

"The sniper team is prepared to anticipate a number of forms of crime, such as extortion and truck thefts,” he said. (AIN/RAM/SKA/XTI/REN/MEL/IRE)

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