The government has estimated 15.4 million people throughout the archipelago would be traveling home by buses, trains, ships, airplanes, private cars and motorcycles during Lebaran holiday this year.
Freddy Number said here on Monday that the government was ready to make this year`s Lebaran holiday transportation a success for around 15.4 million home-bound travelers across the country.
Besides, the government has also been repairing broken roads and working on security strategies to ensure the public would remain safe during this year`s holiday season.
"In today`s meeting the check the readiness of related institutions to implement the 2011 Lebaran Integrated Transportation System, we find that the government is ready to do so," Freddy Numberi said on Monday.
The transportation minister said the meeting was attended by representatives from Coordinating Ministry for Economy, Public Works Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry, Health Ministry, Trade Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, and other related parties.
Freddy Numberi said the number of overall Lebaran holiday travelers this year was predicted to increase by 4.14 percent to become 15.4 million people from 14.8 million last year.
"Such a big amount of Lebaran holiday travelers will get better transportation service 7 days before and 7 days after Lebaran, or from August 23 until September 7, 2011 for the mode of inland, sea, and air transportation," Freddy Numberi said.
Freddy expressed hope that transportation service this year of holiday travelers would be much better than that of the previous years.
"The transportation facility this year has an increase of 3.5 percent than the last year`s because we had 246 airplanes then and this year we have 332 airplanes," Freddy Said.
Especially for ferry transportation from Merak to Bakauheni ports, Freddy said there would be more than 26 ferry boats per day.
Asked about holiday travelers traveling on motor cycle this year, the transportation minister warned them against using motorbikes because it would be very dangerous for them.
Meanwhile, State Minister for State Enterprises Mustafa Abubakar said recently that transportation-related state firms were ready to face the surging tide of passengers during Lebaran holiday season this year.
Mustafa said the government has called on state transportation firms such as railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia, shipping company PT Pelni, airline company PT Garuda Indonesia, and inland waterway company PT ASDP to mobilize all of their fleet to prevent concentrations of passengers in the run up to Lebaran holiday.
"According to the directive from President Yudhoyono, the government should ensure smooth transportation, food security, energy efficiency, availability and distribution of goods during the fasting month and holiday season," Mustafa said.
He added that based on President Yudhoyono`s directive, all transportation firms should provide a range of facilities more than adequate to serve any number of passengers.
Mustafa did not elaborate further the percentage of passengers using each mode of transportation but only mentioned that PT Kereta Api Indonesia would add the number of train carriages, PT Pelni and PT ASDP would increase the number of ships, and PT Garuda would increase the number of seats.
Meanwhile, PT Garuda President Director Emirsyah Satar said the national flag carrier would add 30,000 seats to anticipate the surging number of passengers during Lebaran holiday.
"The addition of the number of seats has become routine in the face of increasing passengers during Lebaran holiday every year," Emirsyah said.
According to him, the addition of seats would be coordinated and adjusted with the needs of passengers at a number of airports in the country.
Meanwhile, member of House of Representatives` Commissin-V for transportation affairs Sigit Sosiantomo has warned the government to fix the mode of railway transportation as early as possible for this year`s holiday season.
"The mode of railway transportation in Indonesia has significant benefits and advantages compared with the other modes of transportation," Sigit said here recently.
He made the statement in response to the preparation of train service for Lebaran transportation.
The politician from Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) explained that adequate train fleet was believed to move the wheels of the national economy.
"In the future the government should be consistent in implementing the mandate of law on railway service, especially reinforcing the separation of the function of train regulator and operator so that it can be fully realized in 2011," Sigit said.
To prevent an explosive accumulation of Lebaran holiday travelers this year, the Transportation Ministry has called on all modes of transportation enact incentives for those who are willing to travel early.
Deputy Transportation Minister Bambang Susantono has said the transport operators could offer discount prices on their tariffs for the prospective holiday travelers to leave early.
It is because most of the people preferred to travel home after Lebaran, hoping to have more efficient and comfortable transportation. (*)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
