Anticipating Surge in Return Traffic via Sunda Strait
With only 50 percent of travelers having returned to Java to date, traffic authorities remain vigilant over the traffic surge to untangle any congestion.
By
KRISTI DWI UTAMI
·3 minutes read
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
Homecomers return line up to get off the ferry at Merak Harbor, Cilegon, Banten, Wednesday (26/4/2023).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A surge in the number of travelers returning from celebrating Idul Fitri holiday in their hometowns is forecast for all transportation routes starting today (Saturday, 29/4/2023), with a significant increase in vehicle volume expected at the Sunda Strait crossing. With only 50 percent of travelers having returned to Java to date, traffic authorities remain vigilant over the traffic surge to untangle any congestion.
Expecting traffic to surge during the second wave of returning mudik (exodus) travelers from today to Monday (1/5/2023), Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi warned of overcrowded ferries.
"The surge in the density of vehicles crossing from Sumatra to Java is imminent in this second wave of return traffic starting Saturday. The surge could exceed the port's capacity and needs to be anticipated," he said on Friday (28/4/2023).
Ferry management have prepared anticipatory measures, with the minister saying that in case Bakauheni Port saw an excess of 39,000 vehicles, travelers would be diverted to Panjang Port, and vice versa.
Ira Puspadewi, president director of sea transportation operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry, said that with around 50 percent of travelers yet to cross from Sumatra to Java, it had arranged emergency measures to cope with any overcrowding.
"If the [traffic] flow [surpasses capacity] at Bakauheni Port, the [ferry service] from Merak to Bakauheni will be temporarily closed. The boats will be immediately called to Bakauheni to pick up passengers. Starting on Saturday, motorcyclists will be diverted to Panjang Port," she said.
FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN
Rows of vehicles stuck in a traffic jam at the Jomin Intersection, Karawang, West Java, Saturday (29/4/2023). Congestion occurs at the Jomin Intersection due to the one-way scheme.
A total of 39 ferries are in operation and additional vessels have been prepared to deal with a surge in vehicle density. Apart from better regulation of loading and unloading, Java-bound vehicles might need to be held back at rest areas on the Trans-Sumatra toll road before they are cleared to continue their journeys.
According to ASDP data, during the first wave of mudik return traffic on the first two days (D+1 and D+2) after Idul Fitri, as many as 211,990 people and 47,237 vehicles crossed from Sumatra to Java via the Bakauheni-Merak ferry services.
The figures up to D+4 (27 April) were 467,269 people and 104,832 vehicles, while according to the data on mudik, 920,054 passengers and 213,737 vehicles crossed from Java to Sumatra between D-10 (12 April) and the first day of Idul Fitri (22 April).
Trans-Java routes
Meanwhile, according to data from land transportation operator Jasa Marga, 699,000 vehicles had yet to make their way back to Greater Jakarta as of 1 p.m. on Friday (28/4). The figure accounts for 43.6 percent of the estimated 1.6 million vehicles expected to return. Meanwhile, 903,169 vehicles had returned to Greater Jakarta during the first wave of return traffic on Monday and Tuesday this week.
Transportation Ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati said the ministry expected the second wave of return traffic to peak on Sunday (30/4/2023), and expressed concern about people having time to rest on Monday.
"Even though there will be a surge [in traffic], there shouldn't be [any worries over congestion] because the return traffic will be [directed] in distribution," she said on Friday (28/4).
While acknowledging the traffic distribution of travelers returning from Idul Fitri in their hometowns, thanks to the long holiday and extended leave policy, public transportation observer Djoko Setijowarno stressed that it was still necessary to anticipate an accumulation of vehicles, both on sea and land routes.
