"The peak will be reached tomorrow (December 22). I checked several places, especially the train station, and there was an around 20 percent surge in the number of passengers," Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi remarked after attending a limited meeting on the Christmas and New Year preparations on Friday.
Hence, the Indonesian Railway Company (KAI) has prepared 444 locomotives, one spare locomotive unit, 1,637 train units and 218 spare train units.
According to the minister, the number of train passengers on other days through the Pasar Senen Railway Station reaches as many as 14 thousand. On Friday, the number of passengers at the station increased to 24 thousand. It is estimated that 28 thousand people will use the trains on Saturday, December 22.
With regard to the number of trains, this year, KAI will undertake 346 regular train trips and 48 additional train trips to serve people who want to use railroad services during the year-end holiday period.
Thus, the total number of trains ready to serve the community during the Christmas period is 394. This number increased by five percent compared to last year`s Christmas period, which totaled 375 trains (335 regular trains and 40 additional trains).
KAI also prepared flying ganks, Extra Road Inspection Officers (PPJ), Extra Road Guards (PES), and command post officers in vulnerable areas along the Java and Sumatra railways to monitor obstacles on the road or extraordinary events (PLH), which hinder train travel. A total of 1,423 officers were alerted with details of 415 extra PPJ personnel, 867 extra PES personnel, and 141 vulnerable area command post personnel.
Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, in the meanwhile, readied 3,700 officers during the Christmas and New Year transportation period. Regarding the transportation period, PT Kereta Api Indonesia set the transportation during the Christmas and New Year period to 18 days, namely from December 20, 2018, to January 6, 2019.
Angkasa Pura I President Director Faik Fahmi said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday that 3,700 officers from the Angkasa Pura I and external elements were involved, among others from the Airport Authority, military (TNI), National Police (Polri), National SAR Agency (Basarnas), Port Health Office, airline and land officers.
"We are also preparing a CCTV network that is connected to the `Center of Command` at the Angkasa Pura I Head Office in Jakarta," he said.
In addition, Angkasa Pura I also provides extra services during the Christmas-New Year period that can be enjoyed by prospective airplane passengers.
Besides Saturday, Sumadi also noted that the return flow of the Christmas and New Year travelers will peak on January 1 or 2, 2019, especially on the toll road. The government has estimated that the number of toll road users in Java will increase by 15 percent. "Where Jakarta and Surabaya are connected, there will be a more than 15 percent increase in the number of travelers," Sumadi added. Sumadi, who is a former managing director of airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, appealed to drivers intending to pass through the Trans-Java toll road to control the speed of their vehicles.
"The important aspect is speed control. A speed of 90 kilometers per hour will not be felt, as the road is good and straight. The second aspect apart from speed control is preparing oneself and the vehicle well," Sumadi noted.
To facilitate the flow of traffic on toll roads, the government also plans to temporarily stop the construction of the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road from December 24, 2018, until January 2, 2019.
In addition, the operation of large trucks will also be temporarily suspended on certain days, except for trucks carrying basic materials and fuel oil.
Regarding fuel along the toll road, Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Ignasius Jonan asked state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina to supply fuel on the Trans-Java Toll Road.
Jonan said the volume of vehicles traveling along the Trans-Java Toll Road during the Christmas and New Year holidays would be higher than that during the Eid al-Fitr festivities.
Therefore, it is very important to provide fuel on the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road. "During the Christmas and New Year holidays, everyone (both who celebrate Christmas and do not) will take holidays."
So, there is potential for a two-way traffic flow during the holidays, especially on January 1 and 2 or even up to January 5, 2019. "So, I asked PT Pertamina to prepare fuel supplies in both directions," he continued.
Pertamina itself will build 31 units of Pertamax kiosks and 19 mobile dispensers in rest areas along the toll road, Vice President of Corporate Communication of the state-owned oil and gas company Adiatma Sardjito said on Friday.
The toll road linking Jakarta and Surabaya in East Java was ready for operation after President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially commissioned seven sections of the toll road on Thursday.
Sardjito said Pertamina supported the operation of the Trans-Java Toll Road by providing oil fuel services for toll road users during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Sardjito said there are 57 rest areas and parking bays in the Trans Java between Merak and Pasuruan, including 39 rest areas of type A (rest areas with SPBU) and 18 rest areas without SPBU.
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
