First free Situbondo–Madura Eid ferry carries 331 passengers

Situbondo, 8 March – The ferry for the East Java Provincial Government’s free-mudik programme, on its inaugural departure, carried 331 passengers from Jangkar Port in Situbondo to Raas Island, Sumenep Regency, Madura, on Sunday night. The East Java Provincial Government (Pemprov Jatim) again facilitated free mudik and balik for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri for residents of Sapudi and Raas Islands, Sumenep Regency, by providing a single vessel from Jangkar Port. ‘The free mudik vessel left at 22:00 WIB this evening and carried 331 homebound travellers and 122 motorcycles,’ said Tri Wahyono, Head of Shipping Engineering at the Banyuwangi Regional Port Feeder Unit, Department of Transportation (Dishub) of East Java Province, in Situbondo. ‘The enthusiasm of homebound travellers to use this free service meant the KMP Wicitra Dharma I ferry was fully booked,’ he added. A mudik traveller from Raas Island, Andi, said he was pleased with the Pemprov Jatim free mudik programme and believed it would help those who work away from home return to their hometown. ‘The Pemprov Jatim free mudik programme is held annually; our hope is that it will continue next year. Thank you, Governor Khofifah,’ he said. Meanwhile, the free mudik schedule for the Jangkar-Sapudi route is 11 March 2026 at 06:00 WIB and 16 March at 06:00 WIB. The free return schedule for the Raas-Jangkar route is 29 March 2026 at 06:00 WIB, 2 April at 06:00 WIB, 4 April at 06:00 WIB, and 6 April at 06:00 WIB. The return schedule for the Sapudi-Jangkar route is 27 March 2026 at 11:00 WIB and 31 March at 11:00 WIB.