Exodus continues while others start homewards<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi and Novan Iman Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Avoiding crowds and discomfort, thousands of Jakarta residents
\ndecided to go to their hometowns on Monday, while thousands of
\nothers started to return to the capital after celebrating Idul
\nFitri with their family in their hometowns.<\/p>\n
The continuing flow of outbound passengers was particularly
\nnoticeable at Gambir and Senen railway stations, both in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
At Senen railway station, hundreds of people were still seen
\nqueuing at the ticket counter while at least 4,569 people left
\nthe city on economy class trains.<\/p>\n
Hamid, 40, his wife and three children decided to leave the
\ncity on the Kertajaya train to Surabaya to avoid the crowds on
\nthe days prior to Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
"The trains are always hours late during the peak days,"
\nHamid, a food vendor in Kramat area, Central Jakarta, said.<\/p>\n
He said that last year he could not join the Idul Fitri
\nprayers as the train was almost 12 hours late due to engine
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
The number of people arriving at Senen station from their
\nhometowns reached 3,108 on Monday. A similar number of passengers
\narrived through Jatinegara railway station in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a long queue was also seen at Gambir railway
\nstation, especially at tickets counters for executive class
\ntrains to Bandung and Cirebon, West Java.<\/p>\n
The number of passengers departing from Gambir and returning
\nhere was about the same, reaching almost 2,000 people.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile at Kampung Rambutan bus terminal in East Jakarta,
\nthe number of returning travelers increased slowly although there
\nwere also residents departing Jakarta especially to nearby cities
\nin West Java.<\/p>\n
"Most of the travelers are just visiting friends and relatives
\nin West Java cities such as Bandung, Cirebon and Sukabumi," said
\na terminal official, Karel.<\/p>\n
Karel also said that there were also passengers going to
\nBanjar and Tasikmalaya in West Java or Brebes and Tegal in
\nCentral Jakarta which are slightly farther.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, 18,564 holidaymakers returned to Jakarta through
\nthe Kampung Rambutan terminal while 16,051 residents departed for
\nnearby cities.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile on Monday, data showed that by 2 p.m. 10,836
\npassengers had already returned with many more expected to arrive
\nlater in the day.<\/p>\n
On Monday only 5,751 passengers had departed Kampung Rambutan
\nby 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Most of the returning travelers arrived early in the morning
\nafter leaving their hometowns on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Another bus terminal in East Jakarta, the Pulogadung bus
\nterminal also saw an increase in returning holidaymakers, with
\n34,779 arriving on Sunday.<\/p>\n
On Monday, 7,500 people had arrived at Pulogadung by 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
But the number of passengers departing from Pulogadung bus
\nterminal was relatively small compared to those that departed
\nfrom Kampung Rambutan.<\/p>\n
A total of 9,596 travelers departed on Sunday from Pulogadung
\nand by 2 p.m. on Monday there only 4,672.<\/p>\n
"Most of the buses here travel to cities in Central and East
\nJava provinces. While those in Kampung Rambutan mostly serve
\ncities in West Java," said a terminal official, Hasanuddin.<\/p>\n
"Most of the departing passengers are heading for nearby
\ncities instead of distant cities such as Semarang or Surabaya."<\/p>\n
Hasanuddin also predicted that the peak of the influx would
\noccur on Saturday right before school children resumed their
\nclasses next Monday.<\/p>\n
"Public servants are on leave until Tuesday and should resume
\nwork on Wednesday. But I believe most of them will extend their
\nleave until Friday."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/exodus-continues-while-others-start-homewards-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}