The government has estimated that more than 123 million people will make their mudik (exodus) trip this year. If the prediction is correct, it will be the largest homebound journey in history.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO
Indomie food stall business operators (Warmindo) are preparing to mudik to their hometowns for Idul Fitri event at the Mandala Krida Stadium, Yogyakarta, Monday (17/4/2023). At least 1,700 Warmindo entrepreneurs and their families departed from Yogyakarta on 34 buses provided by instant noodle producer Indomie.
In terms of infrastructure, the government has operated an additional 11 toll roads with a total length of 222 kilometers. The two toll roads include Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan, which connect Bandung-Cirebon and a segment of the Surakarta-Yogyakarta toll road on the easternmost side. The improvement of land transportation infrastructure is important because the greatest mobility takes place on land.
From the non-infrastructure perspective, the government decided to extend collective leave by two days, from 21-26 April to 19-25 April. The purpose of starting the collective leave earlier is to prevent a severe traffic congestion during the annual exodus.
Over the past weekend, travelers have begun to leave Jabodetabek or Jakarta greater area, both heading west to cross to Sumatra and eastward to West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java. Homebound travelers by ship departed earlier because of the long journey across the ocean.
Based on experience, starting on Tuesday (18/4/2023) this afternoon, a larger number of travelers from Jabodetabek and other big cities will leave for their hometowns. The density of the traffic flow will continue to increase until D-day, Idul Fitri.
In the midst of the dense traffic flow travelers will surely experience, there is no other option than to be patient. Be patient in the queue to the respective destinations. Follow the instructions of officers and officials. There is no point in racing, because there will always be a queue due to intersections or vehicle accumulation points.
FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN
Rows of government institution personnel took part in the 2023 Ketupat Operation Call in the Monas area, Central Jakarta, Monday (17/4/2023). The National Police held a 2023 Ketupat Operation Call involving 148,261 joint personnel from related institutions. This operation was carried out in the framework of security during mudik and Idul Fitri 2023 celebrations.
Patience is also the key to ensuring the safety of travelers. They have to be mature enough to measure their own abilities. If you are tired, take a rest immediately. However, avoid resting on the shoulder of the road. The fatal accident on the Semarang-Surakarta Toll Road, Kilometer 487+600, at dawn on Friday (14/4), taught us the danger of resting on the shoulder of the road.
What must be understood is road infrastructure and other modes of transportation are definitely limited. So, they take extra patience. Why limited? There is no road infrastructure in any country that has the capacity to cope with the increase in the flow of people and goods during major holidays. It must be understood, in addition to infrastructure, we still must build the facilities of education, health and other sectors.
So, the road infrastructure must be limited. The Chinese population also always experiences traffic congestion and public transportation problem ahead of Chinese New Year. Likewise, a severe congestion also occurs in the United States ahead of and during Thanksgiving or Christmas.
The most important thing is that homebound travelers can meet and gather with family members and relatives in their villages and hometowns. Then, the travelers can return home to the cities to continue their life. It can be achieved, if they stay safe on the way.
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