2026 Lebaran Return Traffic Peak, Traffic Chief: 256,000 Vehicles Return to Jakarta
The Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps noted a surge in Lebaran 2026 return traffic, peaking on H+3 or Tuesday (24 March). Yesterday, 256,338 vehicles were monitored entering Jakarta through four main toll gates (GT), a drastic 99.02% increase compared to normal traffic volume.
This data was revealed by the National Traffic Corps Chief, Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho, based on the analysis and evaluation report (anev) of Operation Ketupat 2026 on day 12. As of Wednesday (25 March 2026) at 06:00 WIB, the cumulative vehicles returning to Jakarta had reached 1,958,838 units. This figure equates to 58% of the total projected return traffic of 3.4 million vehicles.
“Return traffic has increased sharply, peaking on H+3 (24 March 2026). Compared to the same period in 2025, there was a 14.87% rise in inbound traffic,” said Inspector General Agus on Wednesday (25 March 2026).
The National Traffic Corps affirmed that all traffic policies this year are implemented based on data and real-time field monitoring.
Although the peak of the first wave of return traffic has passed, Inspector General Agus stated that vehicle movements towards Jakarta will remain high in the coming days. This refers to data indicating that millions of vehicles are still in their hometowns.
Conversely, outbound traffic from Jakarta has been observed to decline significantly. Up to H+3, the total vehicles leaving the capital were recorded at 2.52 million units, or about 72% of the projected total of 3.5 million vehicles.
“The remaining return traffic is still substantial, around 1,441,162 vehicles or 42%. This flow is predicted to continue entering Jakarta over the next few days,” he explained.
Inspector General Agus advised the remaining 42% of mudik travellers who have not yet returned to plan their homecoming times. The public can take advantage of the government’s work from anywhere (WFA) policy for civil servants (ASN) as well as similar appeals for the private sector. By working remotely from their hometowns, it is hoped that mudik travellers can delay their return after the peak to better disperse density on main routes.
“Utilise this WFA policy wisely. The public does not need to rush home all at once during the peak return traffic. By staggering return times, the journey will be much more comfortable and free from long traffic jams,” urged the Traffic Chief.
Ban on Stopping on Toll Road Shoulders
Regarding safety and smoothness, the Traffic Corps issued a stern warning to mudik travellers not to use toll road shoulders as resting spots. This is highly dangerous to life and is the main cause of congestion on freeways.
“The shoulder is only for emergencies, not for resting or sleeping. If tired, please head to the nearest rest area or exit to arterial roads to find a safe resting place. Stopping on the toll road shoulder is very risky, potentially triggering rear-end collisions and obstructing other vehicles’ flow,” he emphasised.
“We are not only managing vehicle flow but ensuring every return journey is safe until reaching home,” added Inspector General Agus.