Buffer Zone System Implemented to Prevent Long Queues at Crossings
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo announced that the government is preparing a buffer zone system to regulate vehicle queues at crossing points during the exodus and return journey for Eid 2026. This scheme forms part of traffic management arrangements within Operation Ketupat 2026 to ensure smooth public mobility.
The National Police, together with relevant ministries and agencies, are also preparing various traffic engineering and transport operational arrangements to anticipate the surge in travellers heading home. This measure is being taken to ensure that journeys to and from hometowns proceed in an orderly and smooth manner.
“To maintain the smooth operation of crossing routes, a delaying system, buffer zone, and first-in-first-out system will be implemented,” said Sigit during his address at the Operation Ketupat 2026 personnel parade in Jakarta on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
The National Police are conducting Operation Ketupat 2026 for 13 days from 13 to 25 March 2026, involving 161,243 combined personnel from various units. The operation is being carried out to ensure security and smooth celebrations of Eid 1447 Hijri.
Based on inter-sectoral coordination meeting results, the peak exodus is predicted to occur in two waves: 14–15 March 2026 and 18–19 March 2026. The peak return journey is estimated to occur on 24–25 March 2026 and 28–29 March 2026.
The National Police have also prepared 2,746 posts comprising 1,624 security posts, 779 service posts, and 343 integrated posts. These posts are prepared as information centres and service points for members of the public travelling during the exodus period.
Security is also focused on 185,607 objects including mosques, Eid prayer locations, tourist attractions, shopping centres, terminals, ports, railway stations, and airports. Surveillance is being conducted to ensure public activities during the Eid holiday period are secure.
The government has also issued a Joint Decree on traffic and crossing regulations during the Eid 2026 exodus and return periods. This policy includes restrictions on freight transport operations, implementation of one-way systems, contraflow, odd-even schemes, and postponement of construction projects on several road sections.
The National Police, together with relevant agencies, are also monitoring the availability of basic commodities and fuel oil during the exodus period. Surveillance is being conducted to ensure distribution remains smooth and price inflation does not occur amid increased public mobility.
Operation Ketupat 2026 is also accompanied by security patrols at high-risk locations and police services for members of the public leaving home during the exodus. This effort is expected to provide a sense of security whilst the public travel and celebrate Eid.