Extreme Weather Threatens 2026 Lebaran Holiday Travel, Roads and Rail Lines at Risk

JAKARTA – Extreme weather characterised by high rainfall is expected to present one of the key challenges during the Lebaran Eid al-Fitr holiday travel rush in 2026.

“The current challenge is heavy rainfall,” said transport observer Deddy Herlambang when contacted by Kompas.com on Monday, 9 March 2026.

He explained that road conditions continuously battered by rain risk experiencing faster deterioration. “Road infrastructure will deteriorate if only pothole repairs are made without comprehensive maintenance,” Deddy stated.

Beyond highways, railway routes are also considered vulnerable to impact should heavy rainfall trigger flooding around the tracks. “Railway infrastructure will not be maintained optimally as frequently flooded KA tracks require separate mitigation measures,” Deddy said.

According to him, weather conditions can also affect the operations of other transport modes such as aviation and sea crossings. Airlines typically adjust flight schedules based on safe flying weather conditions.

“The aviation industry will adapt to ideal weather conditions for flight operations, and sea or lake crossings will require favourable weather for sailing,” he noted.

On another front, Deddy assessed that the government has prepared several policies to encourage the public to use public transport during the holiday period. One such measure involves offering tariff discounts across various transport modes including trains, aircraft, and ships. Additionally, several regional governments and private sectors are providing free bus travel programmes.

According to Deddy, these steps can encourage citizens to abandon private vehicles during the holiday. He added that mass public transport usage can also help reduce accident rates during the peak travel period.

“Of course, using mass public transport can reduce accident rates on roads,” he said.