Authorities prepare for annual holiday exodus
Authorities prepare for annual holiday exodus
JAKARTA (JP): With only a few more days to go to the peak of
the annual mudik (annual exodus from the major cities to
hometowns), the responsible authorities across Java have made
major preparations in anticipation of floods, landslides, traffic
congestion, stranded passengers and crimes.
Most of the institutions, including the police, military, and
transportation agencies and companies, have also deployed extra
personnel to help safeguard and smoothen the flow of the
estimated 18.6 million vacationers who are traveling to their
hometowns and tourist resorts to celebrate the Idul Fitri,
Christmas and New Year holidays this year.
Police in Surabaya, with the support of the military, have
stationed sharpshooters at Juanda airport in Sidoarjo in an
attempt to give a feeling of security to domestic travelers and
foreign tourists alike.
Sidoarjo Police chief, Supt. Budi Susilo was quoted by Antara
as saying that the sharpshooters would be stationed at several
spots in the airport, including in the vicinity of the taxi
stand, entrance gates, the VIP waiting area and the arrivals
hall.
"We also want to provide total security for foreigners who
have lately become the victims of crime at the airport," he said.
The state-owned PT KAI railroad company has located heavy
equipment at various spots in a bid to be able to react
immediately to any problems caused by natural disasters affecting
the railroad tracks or stations.
Gatot Wibowo, a spokesman for the company, said here on
Tuesday that PT KAI has also designated alternative routes to
anticipate any trouble caused by floods or landslides.
PT KAI, he said, has already raised the level of tracks by up
to one meter and hardened hillsides in the affected areas.
Many have predicted that the exodus of millions of travelers,
particularly those from Jakarta, would reach its peak this
weekend, which is the start of a week-long vacation for many as
the three festive occasions fall within the same week this year.
Like many major cities in Java and some in Sumatra, Jakarta
was still witnessing significant numbers of travelers in the
intercity bus terminals and railway stations.
Bus tickets at the city's main Pulogadung and Kampung Rambutan
terminals have become scarce.
"I had to queue up for two days to get bus tickets to Dumai
(in Riau, west of Sumatra)," Bani from Pasar Minggu said at the
Pulogadung bus terminal.
Many have also complained about the mushrooming number of
ticket scalpers.
Several roads on the northern coastal route that links major
cities in Java have began to see a significant increase in
traffic with buses and private cars bearing license plates from
many different cities.
In Purbalingga, Central Java, Governor Mardiyanto said that
more than 70 percent of the roads in the province were in good
condition.
"We are taking care of all of the roads in Central Java,
including those in the northern coastal area," Mardiyanto told
reporters on Tuesday after inspecting a bridge over the Klawing
River.
Separately, head of the Central Java Land Transportation
Agency, Susmono, said that his office has prepared some 26,000
buses and 2,700 back-up buses to anticipate the rush of
travelers.
At Merak ferry port, from which ferries link Java with
Sumatra, the number of cars using the ferries has shown a
significant increase.
Last week alone, the ferries transported 19,400 vehicles.
A force of 20,000 officers from the elite police mobile
brigade has been deployed to secure the Merak ferry port.
In Surabaya, Syahwin Ahmid, president of the state-owned PT
ASDP riverboat transport firm, warned all ferry and shipping
lines to be always on alert for unfavorable weather this season.
"According to Meteorology and Geophysics Agency forecasts, the
weather for this year's festive season won't be very good as
there will be a lot of heavy rain and strong winds," Syahwin said
while inspecting the preparations made by his staff at the Ujung-
Kamal ferry port in Surabaya. (bsr/04/45/har/07)