Acceleration of Infrastructure and Mitigation of Homecoming Routes for Eid 2026: From the North Coast to Maluku

JAKARTA — As preparations begin for the 2026 Eid homecoming period, the central government and regional authorities are moving in unison to accelerate transportation infrastructure readiness. The primary focus is on creating robust, safe, and comfortable road conditions to accommodate the anticipated surge in public mobility across various strategic points throughout Indonesia.

On the island of Java, the Ministry of Public Works (PU) is accelerating a preservation project on the Pemalang-Pekalongan National Road segment. Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo emphasised that this route represents the vital artery of the North Coast corridor with exceptionally high vehicle volumes.

Progress on the ground shows positive results, achieving 78.89% physical completion, far exceeding the initial target of 37.66%. The work encompasses two primary methods:

Without demolition: Adding asphalt layers (AC-BC) and high-quality concrete 31 cm thick.

Total reconstruction: Demolishing old pavement and replacing it with Grade A aggregate and structural concrete for long-term durability.

Moving to the eastern region, the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, has instructed the acceleration of road condition surveys along 500 kilometres of arterial roads. This route, stretching from Ampenan (Mataram) to Sape (Bima), serves as the backbone of the homecoming traffic flow in the NTB region.

This precautionary measure has been taken to detect road damage resulting from recent hydrometeorogical disasters. Governor Iqbal emphasised the importance of early identification of potholes to prevent congestion and accidents. This aligns with the directive of Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi, who has called on all stakeholders to prioritise disaster mitigation as part of ensuring smooth homecoming traffic flow.

Capacity Relief Scenarios in Maluku

Beyond land infrastructure, ferry terminal readiness has also become a priority, particularly in Maluku. The Maluku Class II Port Authority (BPTD) has projected a 4% increase in passenger numbers compared with 2025.

Head of BPTD Maluku Hasan Bisri revealed that several traffic management scenarios have been prepared, including:

Traffic flow management: Regulation of port entry and exit traffic and acceleration of ship loading and unloading processes.

Capacity expansion: Increasing the frequency of trips and augmenting the ship fleet during periods of extreme congestion.