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)