Four Days Before Eid: Vehicle Traffic for Homecoming in Central Java Increasing but Still Flowing Smoothly

Vehicle traffic for the Eid holiday homecoming (mudik) in Central Java has continued to increase throughout the morning on Tuesday, 17 March, yet one-way traffic management has not yet been implemented as traffic remains sufficiently smooth with no visible queue congestion at numerous tollgates.

Media monitoring on Tuesday since morning revealed that the volume of homecoming vehicles traversing various routes in Central Java—including the North Coast route (Pantura), central route, South Coast route (Pansela), alternative routes, and the Trans Java tollway—has increased compared to the previous day, with traffic congestion visible at several points.

On the Brebes-Semarang Pantura route, homecoming traffic comprised motorcycles, private cars, and inter-provincial buses (AKAP), whilst wide-axle trucks carrying groceries and fuel continue to weave through the traffic congestion.

“I deliberately travelled home by motorcycle for the homecoming. Besides saving expenses as it’s cheaper, the motorcycle can be used for visiting activities in my hometown,” said Sukesno, 45, a homecoming traveller from Bekasi heading to Salatiga.

Similar congestion has occurred on the central route between Semarang and Solo/Yogyakarta/Purwokerto, with traffic density visible on numerous road sections including Ungaran, Bawen, Tuntang, Jambu (Semarang Regency), Ngampel (Boyolali), Secang (Temanggung), Magelang City, Muntilan (Magelang), and Grobogan.

Semarang Regional Police Chief AKBP Ratna Quratul Ainy stated that to manage the increasing homecoming traffic, all available forces have been deployed to secure the mudik routes, including the Semarang-Bawen tollway and national roads from Semarang to the borders with Temanggung and Salatiga.

“We are deploying 550 personnel to maintain security and ensure smooth homecoming traffic flow on the tollways, national roads, provincial roads, and alternative routes,” stated Ratna Quratul Ainy.

Meanwhile, the Trans Java tollway section has also experienced increased traffic with congestion at several tollgates, particularly at Kalikangkung tollgate in Semarang city, where queues have formed at all 17 tollgates opened in full capacity since several days ago. “Although there has been an increase, traffic remains smooth so far,” said Nasrullah, President Director of PT Jasamarga Semarang Batang.

According to Nasrullah, the peak of the second wave of homecoming is expected to occur on Wednesday, 18 March, and Thursday, 19 March, with vehicle volumes at Kalikangkung tollgate expected to surge. Based on information from the Greater Jakarta area, only 28 per cent of homecoming vehicles have departed thus far.

Based on available data, Nasrullah explained that vehicle volume at Kalikangkung tollgate on that day had already exceeded 35,000 units, an increase compared to Monday, 16 March, which saw 30,000 units, and during peak homecoming hours this figure could double to approximately 68,900 vehicles.

Thus far, Nasrullah continued, no queue congestion has occurred at tollgates, with traffic remaining sufficiently smooth and queues remaining relatively normal and fluid with 17 gates opened, and when peak traffic occurs, 29 gates will be opened simultaneously with a national one-way system implemented.

Cumulatively, Nasrullah stated, from H-10 through H-5 before Eid, total vehicles traversing towards Semarang have reached 155,000 units, representing approximately a 45.62 per cent increase compared to normal conditions, which typically register 83,916 vehicles.

Regarding one-way implementation from the western direction (Jakarta) to the eastern direction (Semarang), Nasrullah stated they are awaiting official instruction from police, as implementation is based on vehicle traffic density. “We are still awaiting further instruction, with the possibility that implementation will begin on Wednesday, 18 March, conducted in phases,” he added.

Regional Office BRI Jakarta II dispatched 2,750 homecoming travellers on Tuesday, 17 March, through the Safe and Hopeful Homecoming programme resulting from collaboration with BP BUMN. PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Jakarta Regional Office 1 recorded 56,041 passengers departing on the fourth day before Eid heading to Yogyakarta, Kutoarjo, Blitar, and Surabaya. Kampung Rambutan Terminal Head Revi Zulkarnaen noted that increased homecoming movement began to be felt on the third day before Eid. The Serang-Panimbang tollway Section 2 opened toll-free ahead of Eid 2026, reducing travel time to South Banten beaches to 2.5–3 hours and promoting tourism. The Eid homecoming tradition must be leveraged to preserve values of unity and tolerance within society. A total of 21,329 vehicles from the Jakarta direction entered Kalikangkung tollgate on the fourth day before Eid, prompting Jasa Marga to open tollgates in phases to manage congestion. Some homecoming travellers to Sumatra brought pets to save boarding costs and maintain their condition during the Eid holiday. Based on police data, the motorcycle accident rate during homecoming traffic reached an alarming 75.9 per cent. From Monday, 16 March, 00:00 to 12:00 WIB, approximately 25,000 vehicles traversed the Cikopo tollway heading to Cirebon, lower than the corresponding time on Sunday, 15 March. The first wave peak of homecoming traffic occurred on Saturday, 14 March, and Sunday, 15 March, whilst the second wave is estimated to occur on Wednesday, 18 March, and Thursday, 19 March.