Anticipating Congestion, the Ministry of Transport Deploys Drones at 80 Strategic Points
Jakarta – The government through the Ministry of Transport has prepared some 36,660 transport vehicles across various modes to serve the needs of the public during the mudik and balik Lebaran 1447 H / 2026 CE. The preparation covers land, sea, air, and rail transport to ensure mobility is smooth, safe, and comfortable.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi revealed that the prepared fleet includes around 31,300 buses to serve land journeys to mudik destinations across Java and other regions. The government is also preparing 841 sea ships and 254 ferry vessels to support inter-island mobility, while for air and rail transport the Ministry provides 372 aircraft and 3,893 rail wagons.
“We have prepared all facilities, whether buses, ferries, aircraft, and trains, to accommodate people undertaking mudik,” Dudy said in Jakarta on Friday (6/3) night.
“Ramp checks and digital surveillance” The Ministry also conducts airworthiness checks on all modes through inspection tools such as ramp checks and surveillance, aimed at ensuring all fleets are fit for operation to guarantee safety. According to Dudy, the inspection process has started since the Christmas and New Year 2025/2026 period and is targeted to be completed before the mudik period begins. “With roadworthy and safe fleets, we hope the public can undertake mudik and balik journeys with a sense of safety and comfort,” he added.
Beyond fleet readiness, the government is also setting up a digital-based Lebaran transport operations monitoring system integrated with various transport hubs. The system enables real-time field condition monitoring at terminals, ports, airports, train stations, and crossing links. Monitoring is conducted in collaboration with the Traffic Corps of the Indonesian Police, the Public Works Ministry, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
To support monitoring, the Ministry has integrated around 7,100 CCTV cameras and prepared 60 drones deployed at 80 strategic points.
Projection of passenger movement The Ministry projects passenger movement during Lebaran 2026 to reach around 143.9 million people, or a decline of 1.7% from the previous year’s 146.4 million. Peak mudik movement is projected for 16-18 March 2026, coinciding with the work-from-anywhere (WFA) policy that has been approved by President Prabowo Subianto. The WFA policy is proposed to reduce congestion. For balik, the government proposes WFA on 25, 26, and 27 March 2026, after Idul Fitri holiday period ends.
Regional readiness: Integrated posts and anticipation of high-risk points At the regional level, various preparations are also being undertaken. The Kapuas Police, Central Kalimantan, has established three integrated posts for Eid operations, including the Integrated Post at Bundaran Roundabout, Security Post beside Lake Mare, and Ferry Pier Mawar Service Post. Kapuas Police Deputy Chief, Kompol Susilowati, said Ketupat Telabang 2026 Operation will involve joint personnel from the Police, Indonesian Army, the Public Works Department, the Civil Service Police Unit, and the Health Office. “Through cross-sectoral synergy between regional government, security agencies, and relevant institutions, it is hoped that the public can celebrate Idul Fitri safely, orderly, and smoothly,” Susilowati said in Kuala Kapuas, on Saturday (7/3).