Government Predicts Peak Exodus Traffic 14-15 March, Return Traffic 18-19 March 2026
Infrastructure and Regional Development Coordinating Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) has predicted that the peak of the 2026 Eid holiday exodus traffic will occur on 14 and 15 March 2026, with a secondary peak expected on 18 and 19 March 2026.
AHY explained that this prediction aligns with statistical data from the Ministry of Transport based on previous Eid holiday periods. “The predicted peak exodus traffic will fall on 14 and 15 March. Then the secondary peak will occur on 18 and 19 March,” AHY stated at the Presidential Chief of Staff’s Office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
AHY also predicted that the return traffic peak will occur on 24 and 25 March 2026, with a secondary peak expected on 28 and 29 March 2026. To manage traffic flows during the interim period, the government will implement a work-from-anywhere (WFA) policy for workers.
“For the return traffic, the peak is estimated to fall on 24 and 25 March, then the second peak on 28 and 29 March. That is why in between we are distributing traffic by implementing work from anywhere,” he said.
According to a Ministry of Transport survey, the potential movement of people is estimated at 143.9 million journeys during this year’s exodus period. The primary destinations for the exodus are predicted to be Central Java and East Java, followed by West Java, Yogyakarta, and South Sulawesi.
“Based on the survey conducted by the Ministry of Transport, it is estimated that there will be 143.9 million journeys or people undertaking the Eid exodus. Looking at destinations, the majority will head towards Central Java and East Java, followed by West Java, Yogyakarta, and South Sulawesi,” AHY said.
The Transport Minister, Dudy Purwagandhi, had previously predicted that the number of people travelling during the 2026 Eid holiday would decrease compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the government is preparing various measures to address the potential surge in population movement during the exodus period.
Purwagandhi explained that the Ministry of Transport regularly conducts surveys each year before formulating transport preparation plans for the exodus season. The survey, conducted in collaboration with the Research and Industry Affiliated Institution of the Bandung Institute of Technology (LAPI ITB), the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), and the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), aims to map the potential movement of people so that the government can prepare transportation facilities and infrastructure more optimally.