It proves that we (our highway services) are improving as compared to the previous year.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The number of vehicles passing along toll roads from Jakarta to Semarang City, Central Java, had increased by 20 percent year-on-year as of April 19 evening, or the estimated D-3 of 2023 Eid al-Fitr.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi made the statement while inspecting the Cikampek Main Toll Gate on the evening of April 19, 2023, as quoted from a press release received on Thursday.

"Thank God, although there was a spike in the total number of the vehicles, the average speed of vehicles (passing) through the toll roads from Jakarta to Semarang had also increased as compared to (the same period in) 2022, namely from 69 kilometers per hour (km/hour) to 71 km/hour," he noted.

"It proves that we (our highway services) are improving as compared to the previous year,” he remarked.

Traffic lanes on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road, which were originally only three lanes for each direction, had been increased to four lanes each up to Kilometer (KM) 70.

The vehicle counting system had also been improved by increasing the number of officers and supporting facilities.

In addition, toilet facilities in rest areas along the Cipali Toll Road were increased, from 150 to 300 units, while the capacity of parking lots had been increased, from 300 to one thousand vehicles.

Related news: Eid exodus running well: Minister

The transportation minister lauded the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, Traffic Corps of the National Police, state-run Toll Road Business Entities (BUJT) Jasa Marga, and other stakeholders that had prepared well to anticipate a surge in the number of vehicles.

"We must continue to improve road infrastructure and enhance the counting system. God willing, next year's homecoming and return traffic (management) will be better," he remarked.

Furthermore, he appealed to travelers to not return from their hometowns on April 24 or 25, 2023, since those days are forecast to be the peak of the return traffic of the 2023 Eid al-Fitr.

Hence, Sumadi advised the public to travel either prior or after the two days.

"On Thursday (April 27) and Friday (April 28), Jasa Marga will provide a 20-percent discount on toll rates since it was proven during the previous homecoming period (in 2022) that the provision of the discount encouraged traffic flow to grow by around 12 percent …," he remarked.

The Islamic holy day is estimated to fall on April 22, 2023. The government had scheduled a meeting to determine the holy day on Thursday evening.

Related news: Exodus: Ministry launches e-book on Java destinations

Related news: Do not hesitate to use facilities along exodus route: police

Translator: Benardy Ferdiansyah, Uyu Liman
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2023