On Tuesday (Apr 26), as many as 28 thousand travelers departed from Senen Station and Gambir Station, while on the previous day, the figure had reached 24,600 travelers.
A total of 32 trains are operating in Gambir station, of which eight are additional trains.
The number of passengers departing at Gambir Station reached 11,400, or 74 percent of the total available seats of 15,500.
Meanwhile, at Pasar Senen Station, 28 trains are operating, of which two are additional trains.
The number of departing passengers totaled 16,600, or 81 percent of the overall available seats of 20,500
In addition, state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, manager of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, received a request for operating 720 additional flights during the 2022 Eid exodus..
"We have received a request for 720 special additional flights from airlines during Eid," Soekarno Hatta Airport executive general manager Agus Haryadi stated here on Tuesday.
If one aircraft has 150 seats, then the additional 720 flights would add 130 thousand seats, Haryadi explained.
Related news: Soekarno-Hatta Airport receives request to approve 720 extra flights
The additional seats are meant to meet and accommodate the demand for Eid exodus transportation this year, he added.
"This is to help meet the demand during the Eid exodus," he stated.
He also appealed to the public to travel home early to avoid overcrowding.
"The government has made an appeal for this," he remarked.
In addition, Head of Poris Plawad Terminal Alwien Athen in Tangerang noted that the increase in passengers had occurred since April 23, 2022, with a total of 1,002 passengers on 221 buses.
On April 24, 2022, some 1,341 passengers were recorded on 238 buses, while on April 25, 2022, there were 1,044 passengers aboard 221 departing buses.
"The average daily passenger (count) has reached more than a thousand people. Now, we can see an increase in passengers. On weekdays, the number of passengers at Poris Terminal reached only around 300 people," he stated.
He explained that the increase in passengers would again occur on April 28-29, 2022. The number of passengers per day is estimated to reach three thousand.
"We have prepared all supporting facilities for the smooth flow of this homecoming trip, including checking the feasibility of vehicles carrying passengers," he stated. Related news: Transportation Ministry readies 350 buses for free Eid exodus
“First is the available infrastructure, second is traffic regulation/management, and third is the behavior of infrastructure users or travelers,” he noted at Merak Port, Cilegon, Banten, on Tuesday.
The government has prepared all requisite infrastructure and regulations for traffic management, he noted.
“Now, it is just the conduct of service users. I think we just need to strengthen the dissemination of information on the regulations that have been prepared for travelers," the minister added.
Hadimuljono, along with Chief of the National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo; Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi; and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, inspected the 2022 homecoming flow at Merak Port, Cilegon, Banten, on Tuesday
They also visited several locations, including the command post for “Ketupat” Operations, the vaccine post, the Merak Integrated Terminal, and the Merak Port Executive Pier.
In addition to observing the homecoming flow and services for travelers, the National Police chief and the minister's entourage also reviewed the readiness of national police personnel for welcoming homecoming travelers.
Hadimuljono lauded the traffic management arrangements made by the police and the Ministry of Transportation for the Eid travel this year.
Related news: Ministry asks people to prioritize traffic safety during Eid travel
Minister Sumadi had earlier recommended differential ticket price slabs for ships traveling from Merak to Bakauheni during the Eid al-Fitr homecoming and urged that afternoon tickets be made cheaper than night-time tickets.
Based on directions from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) regarding the call for early homecoming departure, the ministry has simulated calculations of volume versus capacity for ships, as the number of passengers will increase by 40 percent during the homecoming period, and made two recommendations.
"The first one is to have a disparity in the ticket price for ships bound from Merak to Bakaheuni and vice versa. The ticket price in the afternoon could be cheaper," the minister noted while conducting an inspection at Merak Port on Tuesday.
The second recommendation is the addition of two piers to the Indonesian Port or Pelindo by the Transportation Ministry. The additional piers will handle similar volumes as the existing pier to accommodate more passengers.
"In addition, passengers planning to take the night crossing can buy the ticket at the afternoon prices," Sumadi remarked.
Based on his observation, he pointed to an increase in the number of afternoon passengers from Merak to Bakauheni. The trend has become a constant problem at Merak Port, he pointed out.
"However, I laud the hard work of all stakeholders, specifically the collaboration between state-run ferry operator PT ASDP and the regional police," he added.
Related news: Minister recommends ticket price disparity at Merak Port during Eid
In addition, state-run toll operator Jasa Marga Transjawa Toll Road Regional Division (JTTRD) has appealed to travelers to refrain from making long halts at rest areas along toll roads.
"At the peak of the 2022 Eid Al-Fitr homecoming traffic, travelers are encouraged to stay at the rest area for no more than 30 minutes," head of the marketing and communication department of JTTRD Tody Satria emphasized.
The attempt is aimed at reducing crowding in rest areas since many travelers will participate in the exodus from and to various regions, he added.
All travelers are expected to comply with the warning to avoid congestion that can disrupt traffic on the toll road.
"The policy is expected to improve the smoothness of traffic and the comfort of the road users," the department head stated.
He further said that Jasa Marga is striving to optimally prepare various Eid Al-Fitr homecoming traffic services for this year, including toll gate and road maintenance.
The toll operator is also coordinating with several parties to implement restrictions on goods transport vehicles with three or more axles, in accordance with Circular Letter Number 45 of 2022 of the Transportation Minister.
The restriction will be enforced during the homecoming trip period from 00:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB) on April 28, 2022, until 12 p.m. WIB on May 1.
The restriction will also be imposed during the return trip period from 00:00 a.m. WIB on May 6 to 12 p.m. WIB on May 9.
The policy will be implemented since several huge vehicles will also use the toll roads.
Furthermore, Satria urged travelers to support efforts to ensure a safe, comfortable, and healthy Eid exodus.
He also appealed to travelers to arrange their homecoming schedule to avoid the peak traffic exodus period.
Related news: Ministry asks homecoming travelers using private vehicles to mask up
Editor: Suharto
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