Government Prepares Alternative Ports for Returning Travellers

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Jelang sore di dermaga dua dan dermaga tiga di pelabuhan penyeberangan Merak, Cilegon, Banten, Kamis (28/4/2022).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government has prepared a number of measures to anticipate the surge in traffic from Sumatra to Java, as the number of people returning home after Idul Fiitri continues to increase. One of the measures is to prepare an alternative port besides the Bakauheni ferry port in Lampung to transport vehicles to Java.

One of the alternative ports is the Panjang Port, which is also located in Lampung. On Wednesday (4/5/2022), Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy, accompanied by Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi; State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir; the head of the traffic department of the National Police, Insp. Gen. Firman Shantyabudi; and Lampung Arinal Djunaidi evaluated Panjang Port and Bakauheni Port.

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Muhadjir said that, based on the results of the evaluation of mudik traffic this year, an alternative port was needed, other than Bakauheni Port, to accommodate the increase in traffic. "An alternative port is needed, so that people returning from Sumatra to Java can be better served," he said.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.

Budi Karya explained that eight large ships would be available in the Panjang Port to accommodate vehicles that would cross to Java. "Large vehicles, such as logistics vehicles, will be transported through this port," he said.

The ships from the Panjang Port will go directly to the Ciwandan Port, Banten. With the operation of the Panjang Port, it is hoped that the traffic from Bakauheni Port to Merak Port, Banten, can flow smoothly.

The Transportation Ministry’s land transportation director general, Budi Setiyadi, explained that Panjang Port had eight docks that could be operated to transport vehicles from Sumatra to Java. Apart from the Panjang Port, the government is also preparing Bandar Bakau Jaya Port in Lampung as an alternative port for vehicles and passengers heading from Sumatra to Java.

“One of the plans made to anticipate the increase in returning travelers, especially during peak dates, is providing extra ships and piers. There are seven piers at Bakauheni Port, and eight piers in the Panjang Port. Furthermore, in the Bandar Bakau Jaya port, a number of ships and piers have also been readied to anticipate the increase in vehicles," he explained.

Traffic management

In addition to preparing an alternative port, Budi added, the Transportation Ministry would also work with the police to improve the traffic flow at the Bakauheni Port. If there is a long line of vehicles in the port, the police will implement an open and close system on arterial and toll roads leading to the port.

The return traffic is different from the mudik traffic.

Budi also believes that people will be smarter in preparing for their trip, because they have already had the experience of traveling to their hometowns for Idul Fitri. “The return traffic is different from the mudik traffic. This time, the public is aware that if they want to travel by ship, they have to buy a ticket first," he said.

In addition, the Bakauheni Port has a wider parking area compared to the Merak Port. "So, hopefully the vehicles can be better accommodated this time," said Budi.

The president director of state-owned ferry operator ASDP Indonesia Ferry, Ira Puspadewi, predicts the flow of returning travelers using ferry transportation will peak on Sunday (8/5).

On that day, it is predicted that there will be 17,321 “pedestrian” passengers and 211,010 passengers using vehicles. The total number of passengers at the peak of the return traffic is predicted to amount to 228,331 people or 27 percent higher than 180,444 in 2019.

Meanwhile, from 8 a.m. on Tuesday (3/5) until 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the number of passengers passing through the Bakahuni Port totaled 42,165 people, in addition to 2,640 two-wheeled vehicles, 5,771 four-wheeled vehicles, 179 buses and 324 trucks. Therefore, the number of vehicles crossing from Sumatra to Java totaled 8,914 vehicles.

"For D+1 (Wednesday), the flow of vehicles and passengers entering Bakauheni Port was still relatively high. We estimate that on 6-7 May, the number will further increase," said Ira.

Meanwhile, state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II has ensured that all the airports it manages are ready to serve the surge in passengers for the holiday’s return trip. On D+1 or on Wednesday, the number of passengers passing through airports managed by PT Angkasa Pura II amounted to about 160,000 passengers. The number is projected to increase significantly on 7-9 May.

On 7 May, the number of passengers traveling through 20 airports managed by PT Angkasa Pura II is predicted to amount to 166,312 people. The number of passengers is predicted to increase to 199,857 on May 8 and 179,542 on May 9.

“Mudik travelers are advised to return earlier so that the number of passengers during the peak on 7-9 May will be lower. Returning home earlier can reduce traffic density during peak times," said PT Angkasa Pura II’s president director Muhammad Awaluddin.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

The atmosphere at the departure gate of Terminal 1 Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Sunday (4/24/2022).

In managing the return traffic flow, PT Angkasa Pura II focuses on enabling the smooth process of passenger arrivals, among other methods, by arranging aircraft arrivals, baggage collection and land transportation, namely by bus, taxi and so on.

For 12 days or from D-10 until the second day of Idul Fitri (April 22-May 3), the number of passengers traveling through Angkasa Pura II’s 20 airports reached a total of 2.13 million people. (GIO/OSA/JOL)

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)