AHY: Mudik is Not Merely a Physical Journey, But a Journey of the Heart to One's Hometown

Amid the roar of vehicles flowing towards hometowns, the mudik journey always holds two faces: the hope of returning home and vigilance against road risks. This year’s Eid season, the government is striving to ensure both proceed hand in hand, safe and meaningful. Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, stressed that transport readiness is not merely about traffic flow but also about anticipating risks, especially at disaster-prone points. ‘We hope that multimodal transport during this Eid period can be prepared as best as possible. Various potential risks have also been mitigated, including readiness of teams at several points with high vulnerability levels,’ he said in Jakarta on Thursday. Behind that statement lies a long-standing effort. Extreme weather, landslide potential, and infrastructure damage from disasters are part of this year’s mudik calculations. The government, according to AHY, has deployed teams at various strategic locations so that any disruptions can be handled quickly. In the railway sector, the mudik momentum is showing increasing strength. PT Kereta Api Indonesia recorded an increase in train trips of around 2.1 per cent compared to last year, with a total of nearly 50,000 trips for long-distance and local services. Around five million passengers are estimated to use this mode during the Eid transportation period. At Pasar Senen Station, for example, the daily passenger number is expected to surge to 24,000 people, nearly double the usual. These figures are not just statistics but reflections of moving longing, people returning home carrying stories and hopes. The government is also working to expand travel access. Train ticket discounts of up to 30 per cent are prepared to reach around 1.2 million passengers. At the same time, free mudik and free motorcycle (motis) programmes are offered, providing space for the public to return home without heavy cost burdens. However, for AHY, the mudik journey is not just about changing locations. It is an inner journey. ‘The mudik journey is not only a physical journey but a journey of the heart to the hometown,’ he said. Meanwhile, on the North Sumatra land route, the mudik atmosphere has another story. Roads cutting through hills and valleys still bear traces of disasters that have not fully recovered. The Regent of South Tapanuli, Gus Irawan Pasaribu, reminded mudik travellers not to just chase time but also to maintain safety. In his area, several road sections are still under repair due to previous flash floods and landslides. ‘At this provided post, the facilities are quite complete, there is a resting place and also free health checks,’ he said while inspecting the security post in Parsariran Village.