Ensure ‘Mudik’ is Safe and Sound

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

A number of passengers wait for the train departure schedule at Gambir Station, DKI Jakarta, Tuesday (19/4/2022). A number of residents in Jakarta and its surrounding areas decided to go home early to avoid overcrowding during the last week before Idul Fitri.

Public enthusiasm has been growing for mudik (exodus) during Idul Fitri this year as the Covid-19 pandemic is brought under control. It is necessary to ensure that mudik is safe and sound.

One way to ensure safe mudik is to keep it free of Covid-19 transmissions. The data show that 559 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Monday (4/18/2022) and an average of 933 new cases in the past week.

We should be grateful to see reports of less than 1,000 new cases, especially compared to the daily cases reported during the peak of the Omicron wave at the end of February 2022. On 21 Feb. 2022, for example, the daily average reached 55,378 cases in a single week.

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> President: Avoid Peak of Idul Fitri Traffic

> ‘Mudik’ during Pandemic

However, we must remind ourselves that the Covid-19 pandemic is not yet over. The health protocols should still be implemented during mudik: while traveling, while spending time in our hometowns and also during the trip back to the cities of domicile. We need to prevent the surge in Covid-19 cases that has typically followed a long holiday during the pandemic.

A sound mudik concerns the nature of the trip, wherein the departure date for mudik is a determining factor. President Joko Widodo has advised travelers to depart early to avoid peak traffic during mudik, which is predicted to occur between 28 and 30 April 2022. Travelers can also travel as a group, while motorcycles can be transported by train.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Rows of locomotives parked at the Cipinang Locomotive Depot, Jakarta, Tuesday (19/4/2022) in order to support the 2022 Idul fitri transportation.

The people’s enthusiasm for mudik this year is understandable, especially since the government banned mudik for the past two years to curb the spread of Covid-19. In fact, during Idul Fitri 2020, the police turned back people desperate to return to their hometowns via outbound routes from Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek), especially to the east (Bekasi, Kawarang).

Inevitably, this year’s mudik will be the first family reunion in three years for people who have not returned to their hometowns in the past two years. Everyone is so enthusiastic that no matter the cost and no matter the risk, even if it means getting stuck in traffic, we are willing to persevere. These are the sacrifices being made for reuniting with our families.

However, no matter how congested it becomes, we hope that the traffic jams on mudik routes will not be a nightmare for travelers. Remember that during mudik for Idul Fitri 2016, vehicles were gridlocked for hours, in Brebes and Tegal, Central Java, with some vehicles stuck for days. This should not happen again.

Many things must be anticipated to ensure that this year’s mudik is safe and sound.

As Kompas reported on 4 July 2016, for the three days from Friday to Sunday (1-3/7/2016), Brebes and Tegal were the most tiring and frustrating areas for travelers. Vehicles were gridlocked for hours as a result of too many vehicles on narrow roads.

The excitement of going home has resulted in an increased number of outward bound vehicles, which is projected to reach 23 million private cars and 17 million motorcycles this year. Many things must be anticipated to ensure that this year’s mudik is safe and sound. The beauty and solemnity of Idul Fitri gatherings will be even more meaningful if these various obstacles are overcome.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.