Idul Fitri exodus set to climax today
Idul Fitri exodus set to climax today
JAKARTA (JP): Motorists heading out of Jakarta be warned. Prepare for massive congestion and possible detours.
The intensity of the massive Idul Fitri exodus will increase throughout the weekend.
Jakarta's bus terminals and railway stations were already jammed yesterday, and the Soekarno-Hatta international airport and the Merak ferry terminal were also buzzing with holidaymakers.
The peak will start today and begin to ease on Monday.
Idul Fitri falls on Tuesday, and, as always, Moslems will be spending the holiday in their home villages. The Jakarta administration estimates that more than three million of the city's nine million people will join this year's throng.
Others estimate the number of people leaving Greater Jakarta will hit five million.
Added to the crowd this year are Indonesians of Chinese descent who are celebrating the Lunar Year, which falls on Monday. Because of government restrictions on Chinese New Year celebrations, most are headed overseas.
Maryadi Darmokumoro, the President of Jasa Marga, the state- owned toll road operator, said motorists should expect long queues at the Cikampek toll gate, the shortest route for people from Jakarta heading for West Java, Central Java and East Java.
"We estimate the toll road will carry as many as 32,000 passengers a day during the peak between Friday and Sunday," Maryadi told Antara.
Jasa Marga also expects heavy traffic on other toll roads between Jakarta and Merak, Jagorawi, Padalenyi, Surabaya Gempol and the Semarang artery. The Jakarta to Cikampek toll road, however, will be the most congested, he said.
Jasa Marga has taken precautions.
"Between Friday and Tuesday, the Cikampek toll road will be made one-way for eastbound traffic," Maryadi said. Those driving from the east to Jakarta should head for Dawuan and enter the Kalihurip toll road. Those coming from Bandung in the south should go through Bukit Indah City and enter the Kalihurip toll," he explained.
Jasa Marga is deploying 100 personnel on the Cikampek toll road. They will assist seven police highway patrol units from Jakarta and Purwakarta. Jasa Marga has also built helipads in three locations and opened first aid stations.
Jasa Marga said motorists are also advised to tune in to Radio Sonora on FM 100.9 for updates on toll road conditions.
The company has opened up a 24-hour hot line. Ring 821 6515 for reports on the Cikampek toll road, 841 3632 for the Jagorawi toll road and 552 3904 for the Merak toll road.
Purwakarta, at the end of the Cikampek toll road, has also taken precautions.
Police have partitioned the two lanes to prevent accidents. The Purwakarta area is notorious for accidents.
The partitions will prevent cars from overtaking, the chief cause of congestion, as they exit the Cikampek toll road, Antara reported.
Meanwhile, passengers on the first buses complained they had been overcharged by the bus operators.
Passengers disembarking in Cirebon said they had been forced to pay up to Rp 7,000, instead of the official rate of Rp 5,250, for the trip from Jakarta, Antara reported.
"We were told to pay up or get off the bus," complained one passenger. "We knew hundreds of other people would be pleased to take our seats and pay the fare."
The Ministry of Transportation has allowed bus operators to increase fares by up to 25 percent during the Idul Fitri period, but warned that any company exceeding the limit could lose its operating license. (emb)