The Government has ensured the readiness of all national transport\nhubs to handle the surge in public mobility during the 2026 Eid Holiday\nTransport Period. One crucial focal point commanding attention is the\nMerak Port\u2013Bakauheni Port crossing, a vital route that annually connects\nmillions of holidaymakers from Java to Sumatra.<\/p>\n
To verify this readiness, Coordinating Minister for Human Development\nand Culture Pratikno, along with key stakeholders, conducted a working\nvisit and coordination meeting at Merak Port in Banten. This activity\nformed part of efforts to strengthen cross-sector coordination to ensure\nthe Eid Holiday Transport operations run safely, smoothly and under\ncontrol.<\/p>\n
Attending the meeting were Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi,\nInterior Minister Tito Karnavian, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin,\nMinister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection Arifatul Choiri\nFauzi, Indonesian National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Military\nCommander Agus Subiyanto, ASDP Indonesia Ferry Chief Executive Heru\nWidodo, Operations and Transformation Director Rio Lasse, and numerous\nother stakeholders.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister Pratikno explained that the Government has\nmapped potential population movements during the 2026 Eid Holiday\nTransport period, including estimates of peak departure and return\nflows. With an extended holiday period, the Government hopes to\ndistribute travel more evenly to minimise congestion. \u201cThe public is\nurged to prepare their journeys carefully and follow official\ninformation and instructions from field personnel so that the holiday\njourney runs smoothly, safely and comfortably,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
During the coordination meeting, Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi\nemphasised the importance of vigilance against potential extreme weather\nand strict monitoring during peak traffic periods. All parties were\nasked to commit to implementing policies outlined in joint ministerial\nand agency decisions to ensure smooth Eid Holiday Transport\noperations.<\/p>\n
As the principal ferry service operator, ASDP, alongside\nstakeholders, has prepared various strategic measures to anticipate\ntraffic surges. These include implementing a delaying system at several\nbuffer zone points, namely Rest Areas at KM43 and KM68 and JLS Buffer\nZone in Merak, and Rest Areas at KM87B, KM67B, KM49B, KM33B, KM20B,\nGayam Terminal and Gunung Jati Rest Area in Bakauheni. This system\nregulates vehicle flows before entering the port so that congestion can\nbe better managed.<\/p>\n
This readiness is further supported by integrated security with a\ntotal of 1,185 personnel at Merak and 741 personnel at Bakauheni\npositioned on roads, buffer zones and port areas. Beyond operational\nstrengthening, ASDP has also introduced increasingly user-friendly\nsupport facilities. Port areas are now equipped with food and beverage\ntenants, minimarkets, souvenir centres and children\u2019s play areas.\nWaiting areas, both regular and executive, are equipped with air\nconditioning, prayer rooms, massage chairs and automatic beverage\ndispensers as rest spaces before sailing.<\/p>\n
Child-Friendly Facilities<\/p>\n
Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection Arifatul Choiri\nFauzi also appreciated the child and family-friendly facilities at the\nport. She noted that children\u2019s play areas create a warmer travel\natmosphere and strengthen parent-child interaction.<\/p>\n
For more optimal travel, ASDP has introduced the Ferizy digital\nticketing service system, which allows passengers to plan journeys more\nconveniently and on schedule.<\/p>\n
ASDP Chief Executive Heru Widodo explained that through this\nplatform, ferry tickets can be booked up to 60 days before departure,\nwith e-tickets sent directly via WhatsApp or email, supported by various\ndigital payment methods that further ease transactions for the\npublic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage those travelling for the holiday to purchase tickets\nwell in advance as there is no longer ticket sales at the port. Ensure\nyou have tickets by the day before departure and avoid purchasing from\ntouts who can harm users,\u201d said Heru.<\/p>\n
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo also stressed the\nimportance of more intensive public awareness of online ticket\npurchases. According to him, this step is key to maintaining operational\nsmoothness and reducing potential vehicle queues at the port during the\nholiday travel period.<\/p>\n
With thorough operational readiness and support from increasingly\nintegrated digital systems, ASDP, the Government and all stakeholders\nare committed to providing a more orderly, safe and comfortable holiday\ntravel experience for the public.<\/p>\n
Controlled Heavy Traffic<\/p>\n
Based on data from Merak Command Post, which covers Merak Port,\nCiwandan and BBJ Bojonegara over a 24-hour period from 12 January 2026\nfrom 00.00\u201323.59 WIB, or nine days before departure (H-9), 254 ferry\ntrips were operated.<\/p>\n
Actual passenger crossings from Java to Sumatra on H-9 reached 41,171\npeople, a decrease of 19.4 per cent compared to 51,073 people during the\nsame period last year.<\/p>\n
Two-wheeled vehicles totalled 1,152 units, down 27.7 per cent\ncompared to 1,593 units last year. Four-wheeled vehicles reached 4,364\nunits, down 27.9 per cent compared to 6,051 units last year.<\/p>\n
Overall, total vehicles crossing from Java to Sumatra via Merak,\nCiwandan and BBJ Bojonegara on H-9 reached 10,117 units, down 18.1 per\ncent compared to 12,347 units during the same period last year.<\/p>\n
The cumulative passenger count from H-10 to H-9 totalled 75,914\npeople, down 15.3 per cent compared to 89,607 people last year, with\ntotal vehicles reaching 18,911 units, down 12.1 per cent compared to\n21,514 units last year.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-ensures-merak-port-ready-for-eid-holiday-rush-1773410304", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }