Government Accelerates Infrastructure Readiness to Ensure Smooth 2026 Eid Travel Flow
In anticipation of the 2026 Eid transport season, various stakeholders at central and regional levels are strengthening coordination to ensure homecoming and return travel proceeds safely, smoothly, and comfortably across Indonesia.
In West Sumatra, the Transport Minister is coordinating with Governor Mahyeldi Ansharullah to ensure the success of the 2026 Eid transport operations. West Sumatra is known for having a large migrant population, so each Eid period brings significant arrivals to the Minangkabau region.
Based on the 2026 Eid Transport Movement Potential Survey, approximately 1.88 million West Sumatran residents are estimated to travel during this period. In terms of destinations, the largest flow is recorded heading to Central Java, whilst movement towards West Sumatra is projected to reach 5.36 million people. This level of mobility demands mature, responsive, and integrated readiness, particularly at transport hubs such as airports and terminals.
The Transport Minister has emphasised the importance of synergy between the Ministry of Transport, the West Sumatra Provincial Government, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the National Police, and all stakeholders, including the community. The required support includes preparation of integrated command posts, rest areas, congestion mitigation, travel information provision, monitoring of disaster-prone areas, and conditional traffic management and engineering.
Additionally, Eid transport monitoring is conducted through ramp checks to ensure fleet and transport hub readiness, as well as driver health and fitness inspections. The government is also promoting the consolidation of free homecoming programmes through data, schedule, and route integration to ensure services reach their intended beneficiaries and achieve optimal occupancy rates, including provision of feeder transport to departure points.
To anticipate the surge in mobility, mosques and Motor Vehicle Weighing Implementation Units (UPPKB) are being optimised as rest areas with free and secure parking facilities, adequate toilets and sanitation, clean water, lighting, basic health posts, and integrated traffic signage and management. At congestion and crowded points, security personnel, alternative routes, and level crossing supervision between roads and railway lines are being prepared. Regional governments are also expected to prepare mitigation posts on flood and landslide-prone routes, including implementation of Weather Modification Operations in hydrometeorologically at-risk areas.
Special attention is also being given to markets and tourism destinations, given the potential for increased shopping activity ahead of Eid and the surge in tourist visits on Eid+1 and Eid+2. Parking management and traffic flow engineering are important steps to prevent congestion.
Similar efforts are being undertaken in other regions. In Bogor Regency, West Java, the local government is accelerating repairs to Mangker–Sukadamai Road in Balekambang Village, Jonggol District, to anticipate increased population mobility. This acceleration was discussed during a meeting between Bogor Regency Government and the Large River Basin Authority (BBWS), following resident complaints regarding damaged road conditions caused by the Cijurey and Cibeet Dam construction projects.
The Head of the Bogor Regency Public Works Department, Suryanto Putra, conveyed a joint commitment to conduct temporary repairs at severely damaged points so that before Eid the road would be in better condition for travel. Given that road authority has been transferred to BBWS as part of the dam project implementation, synergy between the two parties is key to accelerating handling. The BBWS has itself planned road improvements through rigid concrete works on the Mekarwangi–Karyamekar and Mangker–Sukadamai sections, with progress already underway over several kilometres.
Meanwhile, port sector readiness has also been strengthened. The Director of Risk Management of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) has conducted a direct inspection of the Banjarmasin Port passenger terminal to ensure facility readiness ahead of the 2026 homecoming travel rush. The inspection covered departure and arrival areas, waiting rooms, security and safety facilities, supporting infrastructure, and personnel readiness.