50 Percent Time Saving, Trans Sumatra Toll Road Set to Welcome Millions of Mudik Travelers

Jakarta, Kompas.com - The face of Mudik traffic on Sumatra will be transformed in 2026. PT Hutama Karya (Persero) formally announced the readiness of the Trans Sumatera Toll Road (JTTS), which now spans 822.609 kilometres, to welcome the Eid al-Fitr traffic. This transformation is a concrete solution to the legendary congestion along the Trans Sumatra route. The awaited news for Mudik travellers is the operation of new sections that are still toll-free. The Betung–Tempino–Jambi Section 3, 52.2 km long, is confirmed to commence operations without charges. In addition, Hutama Karya has prepared a functional lane spanning 77.555 km to ease congestion, including Sigli–Banda Aceh Section 1 as well as the ‘lifeline’ Palembang–Betung Sections 1 and 2. The route that used to be a choke point for hours of congestion along the East Cross route can now be travelled in about an hour. ‘Travel from Jakarta to Palembang, which previously took 15–20 hours, can now be completed in 8–10 hours, including the Merak–Bakauheni crossing,’ said a transport observer and Unika Soegijapranata academic, Djoko Setijowarno, in his remarks to Kompas.com on Friday (6/3/2026). Hutama Karya not only sells speed, but also the readiness of the service ecosystem. A total of 3,273 officers and 467 standby vehicles have been deployed along the route. The safety of travellers is monitored via 1,547 CCTV units integrated in real time. For Mudik travellers concerned about energy, there are 23 fuel filling points and 19 Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU). ‘The significance of JTTS for Eid al-Fitr 2026 feels increasingly real. The addition of new sections is not merely physical construction but a concrete solution that brings closer distance and provides greater comfort,’ added Djoko, who is also a member of the MTI Pusat Advisory Board.