200,000 Workers Predicted to Crowd Monas on May Day, Jakarta Traffic at Risk of Congestion

JAKARTA – The Jakarta Metropolitan Police Traffic Directorate estimates that around 200,000 workers will flood Jakarta, particularly the National Monument (Monas) area, for the International Labour Day commemoration on Friday (1/5/2026). The surge of crowds arriving from various regions, such as East Java, Central Java, West Java, and Lampung, is expected to impact traffic density on several roads in the capital. Jakarta Metropolitan Police Traffic Director Senior Commissioner Komarudin stated that the police have prepared several measures to anticipate the density while maintaining the smooth flow of public activities. Komarudin mentioned that vehicles carrying the worker masses are estimated to reach around 4,000 buses and 20,000 motorcycles. To accommodate these vehicles, the police have prepared several parking pockets adjusted to the origin of the masses. Worker masses from West Java and Bekasi are directed to the JIExpo area and Jalan Benyamin Sueb, Kemayoran. Meanwhile, masses from Central Java and East Java will use parking pockets at Aldiron, Pancoran. Buses arriving from Banten, Lampung, Tangerang, and surrounding areas are prepared to park in the main stadium area of Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK). Komarudin explained that traffic engineering will be implemented situationally, depending on field conditions. The public is advised to avoid the Monas area and its surroundings to reduce the potential for congestion. If density occurs on Jalan Merdeka Barat, Timur, Utara, and Selatan, traffic flow will be diverted to several alternative routes such as Sarinah, Tugu Tani, and Harmoni. “We will start diverting or reducing the volume to anticipate increasingly long and prolonged density,” he said. Komarudin noted that the increase in vehicle volume could already be felt since Thursday afternoon. To support security and the smooth running of the event, 1,793 police personnel will be deployed at several strategic points in Jakarta.