Bus ticket prices at Lebak Bulus Terminal rise ahead of Eid al-Fitr

Jakarta - Several passengers preparing to travel home via Lebak Bulus Terminal in South Jakarta have reported that bus ticket prices are rising ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijrah.

“If you buy the ticket almost half a month in advance, for a journey to Baturaja now costs around Rp360,000, up from Rp290,000 previously,” said Rafiq Zuanda, a passenger bound for Baturaja in South Sumatra, speaking to reporters in Jakarta on Sunday.

Rafiq had booked his bus ticket nearly two weeks before his departure date. For the Jakarta to Baturaja route, ticket prices have risen from approximately Rp290,000 to Rp360,000.

Return tickets from Baturaja to Jakarta are considerably more expensive, reaching Rp500,000 and above. “For the return trip to Jakarta, it can reach Rp570,000,” he said.

Passengers are booking tickets early to depart sooner and avoid the congestion of the homecoming rush. “I bought the ticket on 1 March. The price was Rp170,000, normally I take a minibus service,” he noted.

A bus ticket agent, Oyong, acknowledged that ticket prices have increased. Nevertheless, high demand has resulted in sold-out services for dates close to Eid al-Fitr. “Alhamdulillah, it’s already sold out. The price went up from Rp170,000 to Rp250,000,” he said.

In the waiting area, luggage belonging to travellers is visible everywhere, ranging from suitcases to cardboard boxes. Staff from the Department of Transportation and medical volunteers continue to be stationed at Lebak Bulus Terminal.

Many homebound travellers are choosing to depart earlier to avoid the congestion typically experienced on the migration routes close to Eid al-Fitr.