Exodus continues while others start homewards
Ahmad Junaidi and Novan Iman Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Avoiding crowds and discomfort, thousands of Jakarta residents decided to go to their hometowns on Monday, while thousands of others started to return to the capital after celebrating Idul Fitri with their family in their hometowns.
The continuing flow of outbound passengers was particularly noticeable at Gambir and Senen railway stations, both in Central Jakarta.
At Senen railway station, hundreds of people were still seen queuing at the ticket counter while at least 4,569 people left the city on economy class trains.
Hamid, 40, his wife and three children decided to leave the city on the Kertajaya train to Surabaya to avoid the crowds on the days prior to Idul Fitri.
"The trains are always hours late during the peak days," Hamid, a food vendor in Kramat area, Central Jakarta, said.
He said that last year he could not join the Idul Fitri prayers as the train was almost 12 hours late due to engine problems.
The number of people arriving at Senen station from their hometowns reached 3,108 on Monday. A similar number of passengers arrived through Jatinegara railway station in East Jakarta.
Meanwhile, a long queue was also seen at Gambir railway station, especially at tickets counters for executive class trains to Bandung and Cirebon, West Java.
The number of passengers departing from Gambir and returning here was about the same, reaching almost 2,000 people.
Meanwhile at Kampung Rambutan bus terminal in East Jakarta, the number of returning travelers increased slowly although there were also residents departing Jakarta especially to nearby cities in West Java.
"Most of the travelers are just visiting friends and relatives in West Java cities such as Bandung, Cirebon and Sukabumi," said a terminal official, Karel.
Karel also said that there were also passengers going to Banjar and Tasikmalaya in West Java or Brebes and Tegal in Central Jakarta which are slightly farther.
On Sunday, 18,564 holidaymakers returned to Jakarta through the Kampung Rambutan terminal while 16,051 residents departed for nearby cities.
Meanwhile on Monday, data showed that by 2 p.m. 10,836 passengers had already returned with many more expected to arrive later in the day.
On Monday only 5,751 passengers had departed Kampung Rambutan by 2 p.m.
Most of the returning travelers arrived early in the morning after leaving their hometowns on Sunday afternoon.
Another bus terminal in East Jakarta, the Pulogadung bus terminal also saw an increase in returning holidaymakers, with 34,779 arriving on Sunday.
On Monday, 7,500 people had arrived at Pulogadung by 2 p.m.
But the number of passengers departing from Pulogadung bus terminal was relatively small compared to those that departed from Kampung Rambutan.
A total of 9,596 travelers departed on Sunday from Pulogadung and by 2 p.m. on Monday there only 4,672.
"Most of the buses here travel to cities in Central and East Java provinces. While those in Kampung Rambutan mostly serve cities in West Java," said a terminal official, Hasanuddin.
"Most of the departing passengers are heading for nearby cities instead of distant cities such as Semarang or Surabaya."
Hasanuddin also predicted that the peak of the influx would occur on Saturday right before school children resumed their classes next Monday.
"Public servants are on leave until Tuesday and should resume work on Wednesday. But I believe most of them will extend their leave until Friday."