Government Prepares Policy to Manage the 2023 Eid Homecoming

VIVA – The Ministry of Transportation predicts that on Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijri/2023 AD, there will be an increase in the number of homecoming people around 123 million or 47% nationally, according to Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.

"Together with the Head of the Traffic Corps and the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, we have coordinated to manage this Eid homecoming, one is related to homecoming using motorcycles which has the highest accident rate. For this reason, the Ministry of Transportation has prepared several free homecoming programs by bus, ship, and train." Minister Sumadi explained after a meeting on the preparation of the 2023 Eid al-Fitr Homecoming flow in Jakarta, Friday.

The minister said that transportation from Merak Port to Bakauheni also become a highlight for the government. Every year during the homecoming period, Merak Port is quite crowded and even exceeds the limit. Currently, there are 7 ports in Merak and an additional 5 ports in Ciwandan.

"The National Police Chief asked that several ports such as Indah Kiat, and Bakau Jaya to have a function. Thus, the departure point is not only in Merak but also in Ciwandan, Indah Kiat, and Bakau Jaya," he informed.

Not only more ports but the number of ships will also be increased. Such as using Pelni ships to be used as crossing ships that have been implemented since last year, he added.

In addition, the government also focused on discussing the use of toll roads and arterial roads and will limit three-axis goods vehicles that are relatively congested on toll roads and arterial roads.

"We will announce what days are not allowed to use the designated roads. What is excluded is fuel, gasoline, livestock, fertilizer, money delivery, staples including vegetables, motorbikes going home or returning, then another one that we discussed earlier is food, and beverages. However, we give a note that they can pass but cannot use three axes," said Minister Sumadi.

The Minister also emphasized that there will be an assessment to curb the exempted vehicles and they are also not allowed to carry overloads. The use of arterial roads will also receive attention to facilitate the flow of homecoming this year.

Furthermore, he also conveyed the proposal to advance the collective leave holiday two days earlier, which was originally from April 21, 2023, to April 19, 2023. According to him, the proposal arose in anticipation of traffic congestion due to the predicted increase in travelers' enthusiasm in 2023.

"With a large volume and if you look at it, it is only on April 21, 2023, there will be an extraordinary buildup so that with the advance, travelers can start from the 18th afternoon, 19th, 20th, 21st (April 2023). There are four days for them to homecoming," he concluded.