"The first effort we have made is to increase the number of ship trips from 131 to 146 trips (from Bakauheni Port)," Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi told reporters at Bakauheni Port here on Sunday.
Minister Sumadi inspected Bakauheni Port in Lampung on Sunday, in order to monitor the Eid al-Fitr return flow condition.
At the location, he was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Head of the National Police Traffic Corps Inspector General Aan Suhanan, President Director of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry Ira Puspadewi, and other officials.
He said the increase in the number of ferry trips was to ensure smooth crossing services when there is a significant surge in passengers.
In addition to increasing the number of ferry trips, he also asked ferry operators to be on-time and not dock for too long.
"If a ship rests beyond 45 minutes, it must leave," he said.
Furthermore, the Harbormaster Port Authority Office (KSOP) has also issued a directive to ferry operators to prevent delay in departure.
Sumadi said, in addition to Bakauheni Port, Panjang Port in Lampung is also operated to serve the return flow from Sumatra Island to Ciwandan Port, Banten.
He also asked the local governments and related officials to direct the public to cross through the Panjang Port, as it is relatively closer than Bakauheni.
On a separate occasion, PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry reported that it crossed as many as 109,965 passengers from Bakauheni Port to Merak Port during the Eid return flow on April 11-12.
Translator: Aloysius L, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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