Banten getting ready for Idul Fitri homecoming

Multa Fidrus and Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Serang

The Banten administration is better prepared this year to accommodate the annual exodus of people who want to celebrate the Idul Fitri holiday in their hometowns.

Banten Transportation Agency head Turmudzi said that his office has added ferries at Merak Port to serve thousands of passengers crossing the Sunda Strait.

"At least 26 ferries will be ready around the clock to ferry people from Merak to Bakauheni, Lampung, seven days prior to the Idul Fitri celebration and seven days afterward," he said on Monday.

He added that the Cilegon municipal administration was also ready to operate two pilot boats to watch over the ferries.

"We have also prepared several generators to power the ferries which were built in the 1970s as well as two search-and-rescue boats."

The Jakarta Post observed that the administration had also repaired damaged roads.

According to Turmudzi, the agency is now coordinating with the administrations of Tangerang regency, Tangerang municipality, Lebak, Serang and Pandeglang regencies as well as Cilegon to make sure that there will be no shortage of buses during the peak period.

"The peak of passengers from Java to Sumatra and from Sumatra to Java will take place three days before and five days after Idul Fitri. We hope that the exodus will run smoothly this year," he said.

The agency is also cooperating with national flag carrier Garuda Airways and Merpati Airlines to spare 53,000 seats.

The Banten Police will also place marksmen at several location around Merak port and along the Jakarta-Merak toll road.

Separately, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said on Tuesday that about 12,000 officers, or two-thirds of the force, would be deployed to secure the city from the eve of Idul Fitri until two days after the holiday.

He added that the personnel would focus on bus terminals, railway stations, the port and airport.

The police will also assign officers to patrol and guard housing complexes, which may be an easy target for burglars while the owners are away on holiday.

"Banks, where people are most likely to be withdrawing money before Idul Fitri, will also be guarded 10 days before the celebration," he added.