People advised to go to hometowns early<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police urged Idul Fitri holidaymakers yesterday
\nto leave the city as soon as possible in order to help reduce the
\nunavoidable heavy traffic congestion.<\/p>\n
"As the school holidays will start next week, it might be
\nbetter for families to begin their Idul Fitri holidays as soon as
\npossible," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. I.K. Ratta told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
By doing so, Ratta said, the holidaymakers could arrive at
\ntheir hometowns in time to avoid the heavy bumper-to-bumper
\ntraffic, which always occurs along the roads stretching from
\nJakarta to cities and towns in Java and Sumatra on the days
\nleading up to the Idul Fitri celebrations.<\/p>\n
"The sooner, the better," he said.<\/p>\n
This year, the Islamic holidays of Idul Fitri, a feast day
\ncelebrating the end of the Ramadhan fasting month, fall on Feb.
\n20 and 21.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, people living in the city flock to their
\nhometowns to spend the Idul Fitri holidays together with their
\nfamilies, neighbors and friends.<\/p>\n
As this year's holidays fall on Tuesday and Wednesday many
\nbelieve offices in Jakarta will remain empty until the following
\nweek.<\/p>\n
This year's Idul Fitri will coincide with the Chinese New Year
\n(Imlek) which falls just one day before the Moslem holiday.<\/p>\n
Many employees, mostly Moslems, normally take their annual
\nleave during this period.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Transportation estimates that 1.8 million
\npeople will leave Jakarta for their hometowns, an increase of 15
\npercent from 1.6 million last year.<\/p>\n
Besides thronging the roads, the annual Idul Fitri exodus also
\nhappens at Soekarno-Hatta airport, railway stations and seaports.<\/p>\n
Travel agency operators claim that many tickets have been
\nbooked.<\/p>\n
According to Ratta, two-third of the city's 187,000 police
\nofficers will be deployed to ensure the Idul Fitri celebrations
\ngo smoothly.<\/p>\n
None of the 125,000 officers are allowed to take leave during
\nthe seven days before and after the Idul Fitri holidays, Ratta
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"The officers have no choice but spend the Idul Fitri holidays
\nsupervising the flow of traffic on the roads," he said.<\/p>\n
He also warned those who travel by cars for the Idul Fitri
\nholidays to be careful of possible robbers operating on the
\nlonely roads.<\/p>\n
"Alternatively, we'd like to suggest people to take their
\nholidays sooner and come back to the city immediately," Ratta
\nsaid. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/people-advised-to-go-to-hometowns-early-1447893297",
"image": ""
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