"The Ministry of Transportation will offer free homecoming trips like in the previous years. Despite limited budgets, we will still execute this program," he informed in Jakarta on Thursday.
He said that the initiative aims to anticipate a likely spike in the number of people traveling in private vehicles and thereby, reduce traffic density during the Eid al-Fitr season.
"Most importantly, our move is expected to help enhance the safety of homecoming travelers," he added.
He argued that making long-distance trips in private vehicles, particularly motorcycles, tend to put travelers at higher risk of accidents.
He then called on the public to make the most of the ministry's program and similar initiatives taken by other institutions, state-owned enterprises, and the private sector to avoid unwanted events during their journey.
"We will always remind people not to undertake long-distance trips using motorcycles, given the high risk of accidents," he said.
Purwagandhi assured the public that the Ministry of Transportation will employ vehicles that have undergone ramp checks for its Free Homecoming Travel program.
"Note that our offer includes the service of transporting motorcycles of homecomers. This way, they can use the motorcycles for their mobility in their destinations," he said.
The homecoming program offers land, sea, and railway transport services at several transportation facilities.
For road trips, the ministry's Land Transportation Directorate General has readied 520 buses for 21,536 passengers and 10 trucks to transport around 300 motorcycles for homecoming and reverse trips across Sumatra, West Java, and East Java.
In the maritime sector, the Sea Transportation Directorate General has prepared a quota of 47,816 passengers for sea voyages.
Meanwhile, the Railway Directorate General has readied 16,960 train seats for passengers and space for 7,424 motorcycles.
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Translator: Muhammad H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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