Given the large number of travelers, traffic management will be required during the exodus and the return flow so that the mass movement can be made orderly, smooth, comfortable, and safe.
Further, detailed and coordinated traffic governance will be needed during the holiday period to prevent unwanted issues, especially traffic jams.
In view of the large number of travelers that are forecast to join the Eid exodus flow, the West Java provincial government has been preparing road infrastructure.
During the Eid holiday period, travelers always pass through West Java, and the province has become the main route for travelers headed to Central Java and East Java.
Supporting infrastructures, such as roads, are currently being improved to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the Eid exodus and return flow, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil informed.
Road improvements have been started although the dates of the Eid exodus are still about three weeks away.
The provincial government is currently leading the repair of 71 road sections in 27 districts and cities.
Head of the West Java Provincial Highways and Spatial Planning Agency (DBMPR), Bambang Tirtoyuliono, said that the 71 road sections have been divided into 69 work packages and most have been listed for regular maintenance, such as resurfacing or hot mix overlaying.
Sixty-two of the 69 road improvement packages will be regularly maintained, with the providers selected through the e-catalogue on February 19, 2023.
"The 62 packages have been contracted, with a total length of 337.342 kilometers of road. Some work packages have begun in the second week of March and will be completed by the end of July," Tirtoyuliono said.
Routine maintenance is needed to repair potholed roads, he explained adding that DBMPR is striving to finish fixing them before Eid.
The road sections under the provincial government's authority that are part of the improvement project include some roads in Bogor, Sukabumi, Cianjur, Karawang, Garut, and Pangandaran.
According to Kamil, during the exodus flow, roads in West Java will certainly be chock-a-block with cars and motorcycles.
Hence, the safety aspect must be readied as soon as possible so that travelers can feel secure when traveling through West Java, he said.
One of the regional apparatus organizations (OPD) in West Java, which has received an important mandate for the exodus implementation, is the transportation office.
The West Java provincial transportation office has begun its preparations for the 2023 Eid homecoming and return flow by taking lessons from last year's Eid flow.
The office is also taking into account a possible 10–15 percent increase in public mobility this year compared to the previous year.
Based on data, during last year's Eid homecoming flow, at least 1.9 million vehicles from the Greater Jakarta area crossed West Java through the northern coast route (Pantura).
Millions of vehicles also moved through the southern coast of West Java, some used the toll roads and some did not.
There will be an increase in the number of vehicles during the exodus flow this year that will need to be anticipated, secretary of the West Java Transportation Office, Idat Rosana, said.
The office will pay attention to the safety of travelers, including travelers using public transportation, he added.
The office has coordinated with the city and district transportation offices regarding public vehicle roadworthiness.
Regarding road infrastructure, the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry and the West Java DBMPR have prepared proper roads for travelers.
As part of readying road facilities, the transportation office has prepared traffic signs, road surface markings, and street lighting on provincial roads.
The office has also reviewed road improvements from Bogor, Cirebon, and Pangandaran, to all across West Java by checking the street lighting and other safety equipment.
The street lights along Wanayasa Road in Subang as well as in Purwakarta, Garut, Kuningan, and Bogor have been inspected.
Timeline
To ease all work plans related to the Eid exodus and transportation flow, the West Java Transportation Office has formulated a timeline for operations.
The office predicted that the first wave of the homecoming flow will peak on April 14–15, while the peak return flow has been forecast on April 31.
The office will start the operations for the homecoming flow 7 days before Eid.
It will coordinate with West Java Police and the Transportation Ministry. One of the efforts that will be carried out by the office is setting up 138 posts for the homecoming flow by involving 4,328 officers from the central and local governments.
Moreover, the West Java Transportation Office is also readying the free exodus program.
Head of the office, A. Koswara, said that he will collaborate with several parties, including by inviting state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and other private institutions, to conduct the free homecoming program.
The free exodus program offered by the West Java Transportation Office will include long-distance buses to accommodate travelers outside West Java and free tickets on already available routes.
Until now, the free exodus program is being arranged, and later, it can be supported by vehicle roadworthiness checks and ramp checks to ensure passenger safety.
With these preparations, it is expected that millions of travelers who will cross the West Java region will feel safe and comfortable.
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Translator: Ajat S, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
