Government Urges Public to Avoid Peak Return Traffic on 28-29 March

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Pratikno has urged the public to avoid the peak return traffic for Eid al-Fitr 2026 on 28-29 March. Pratikno stated that the return traffic has begun to increase and is expected to surge again at the end of the Eid holiday period. “We also urge the public not to concentrate on 28-29 March at the end of these holidays,” Pratikno said after inspecting the mudik and return traffic conditions at the Jasa Marga Toll Road Command Centre (JMTC) in Bekasi on Wednesday. He said the public is expected to schedule their journeys earlier so that vehicle distribution is more even and not concentrated at specific times. Pratikno explained that this year’s Eid mudik traffic has generally run smoothly, despite temporary increases in vehicle volume from H-12 to H+3 of Eid. “There was an increase of 4.6 to nearly 5 per cent. The crossings were also very high, but alhamdulillah, it ran smoothly,” he said. In addition, traffic accident figures during that period were reported to have decreased by around 16 per cent. According to him, the smoothness of the mudik traffic is inseparable from the readiness of cross-agency efforts and data-based monitoring systems that enable quick responses on the ground. Pratikno also appreciated the hard work of the officers who continued to serve during the Eid period to maintain the smoothness and safety of public travel. He added that the return traffic is expected to increase by around 5 per cent, so time management by the public is needed to avoid congestion at the peak return traffic. “That means there is still a remainder of about 2.5 million vehicles that left Jakarta. Minus those that have already entered, that is our homework to disperse during the peak return traffic,” said the National Police Chief. The government recorded a temporary peak return traffic of 256,338 vehicles in one day, higher than last year’s Eid period of 223,163 vehicles. He stated that the government continues to encourage dispersal so that the return traffic does not pile up at the peak of the Eid holiday period.