143.9 Million People Predicted to Mudik as Government Tightens Bus Safety

The government is tightening oversight of road-transport safety ahead of this year’s Eid al-Fitr mudik, with mobility expected to reach about 143.9 million people. The Directorate General of Land Transportation (Ditjen Hubtrans) of the Ministry of Transportation is implementing a range of policies, from safety inspections of bus fleets to providing quotas for free mudik for the public.

Director General of Land Transportation Aan Suhanan said the surge in movement requires careful transport management.

“This year, 143.9 million people will undertake mudik travel, about 50 percent of the population, so a series of regulations and policies are needed,” Aan said in an official statement on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

From the total fleet inspected, 8,680 units or 63.90 percent were approved to operate. Then 2,844 units or 20.94 percent received repair warnings.

Additionally, 1,645 units or 12.11 percent were forbidden to operate, while 415 units or 3.06 percent were issued with tickets and also barred from operating.

According to Aan, safety inspections will continue until 29 March 2026 at strategic points such as Type-A Terminals, bus pools, rest areas, toll exits, and areas prone to accidents.

“In addition, the Ministry of Transportation has opened free mudik quotas in the hope of reducing motorbike mudik through the free mudik programme with quotas of 110,112 people on buses, trains and ships and 12,140 motorcycles transported by trucks and trains,” Aan said.

He noted that long-distance journeys by motorcycle carry a high risk of accidents.

“We are pursuing this because long-distance motorcycle travel is highly likely to result in accidents,” he added.