Jambi-Palembang East Sumatra Route Now Flowing Smoothly, Heavy Vehicles Still Restricted

Police state that traffic flow on the East Sumatra route (Jalintim) from Jambi to Palembang has returned to normal after experiencing severe congestion in recent days.

It is known that due to the congestion, vehicles of holidaymakers were diverted to alternative western and central routes.

“After the diversion [started to clear up], then since the night of 16 March, the flow began to smooth out. Then, in the morning of the 17th, we coordinated with Jambi to open it gradually, meaning selectively with priority,” said Maesa when contacted on Wednesday (18/3).

Maesa explained that the route opening was done in stages, considering priority scales. He said that private vehicles are allowed to pass, while heavy vehicles are still subject to restrictions.

“Those elephant vehicles [heavy trucks] that violate the SKB are being held back for now, or diverted as well. We are looking at the situation with priority scales for vehicles passing through Jambi to Palembang,” he stated.

Maesa claimed that the current traffic flow is relatively smooth. However, he added, congestion could potentially occur at certain points, such as spill-over markets.

“But now, alhamdulillah, it’s already smooth. Only if there are spill-over markets, morning markets, Sungai Lilin, that’s what sometimes gets crowded. But we’ve anticipated it, the joint Polda release team along with PJR Traffic is already there,” he said.

Previously, the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas Polri) stated that the severe congestion on the East Sumatra route (Jalintim) between Palembang and Jambi was caused by a truck accident.

Head of Korlantas Polri Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho said the truck suffered a broken axle on the wheel, causing long congestion.

He admitted that currently, the Traffic Directorate from the relevant Provincial Police have intervened to assist in handling the accident truck and clearing the congestion.

“The one in Palembang-Jambi is similar because there was an accident requiring lengthy evacuation, leading to slowdowns. After the accident was evacuated, there was a broken truck axle, which caused the slowdown in Jambi,” Agus said at KM 57 A on the Japek Toll Road, Karawang, on Monday night (16/3).

Agus explained that through traffic diversion, it is hoped that the congestion on the Palembang-Jambi route can be quickly cleared and conditions return to normal.