Rest areas in the expressway network have become resting places for toll road users. We suggest that travelers stop there for not more than 30 minutes.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chief of the National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on Saturday appealed to homecomers traveling on the Trans Java toll road to explore arterial roads if rest areas on the expressway network are full.

He said that rest areas on arterial roads could be an option if homebound travelers find other rest areas on the expressway network fully packed with vehicles.

They can rest and enjoy food at alternative rest areas' eateries before continuing their road trip, he added after overseeing the dispatch of the National Police's free homecoming participants here on Saturday.

"Rest areas in the expressway network have become resting places for toll road users. We suggest that travelers stop there for not more than 30 minutes," Prabowo said.

Police officers stationed on the expressway network are managing traffic flow from rest areas to prevent traffic jams.

If on-duty police officers find that a rest area is fully packed with cars, they put up a notice board and advise travelers to continue driving and find another decent rest area, he added.

In relation to this, the head of the National Police Traffic Corps, Inspector General Aan Suhanan, earlier advised homebound travelers to not park their vehicles in the emergency lane if they find a rest area fully occupied.

Parking cars on the shoulder of the toll road could hamper traffic flow, he added.

Related news: Eid homecoming: Police monitor traffic flow to Merak Port in Banten

As reported earlier, a joint survey conducted by the Transportation Ministry and the Communication and Informatics Ministry revealed that 193.6 million residents are expected to travel during the Eid holiday season.

State-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga has projected that the peak of this year's Eid homebound exodus will be recorded on April 6, 2024, with around 259 thousand vehicles passing through four main toll gates.

The four toll gates are Cikampek Utama, Kalihurip Utama (Trans Java and Bandung), Ciawi (heading to Puncak resort), and Cikupa (heading to Merak ferry port).

Meanwhile, the peak of outbound Eid travel is expected on April 15, with about 300 thousand vehicles passing through the four toll gates.

To ensure the smooth flow of cars on toll roads during the Eid holiday season, Jasa Marga announced that it has temporarily suspended e-toll card expiry.

An e-toll card expires when a user exceeds twice the normal travel time on a toll road. Thereafter, the card cannot be used to open automatic exit barriers.

Expired cards need to be reactivated with the help of a toll gate worker for toll fee payment.

Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization after Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has determined that Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, will fall on April 10, 2024.

Related news: Deputy minister estimates 7.3 million Eid homecomers to use trains

Translator: Bagus AR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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