Joy of Residents Joining Free Homecoming Trip, Saving Costs and Avoiding Fatigue

Jakarta, Kompas.com - Kampung Rambutan Terminal in East Jakarta was crowded with prospective homecoming travellers on Wednesday (18/3/2026). Some of them were participants in the free mudik programme organised by the Ministry of Transportation. There were 1,600 free mudik participants departing from Kampung Rambutan Terminal using 43 buses to various regions in Java and Sumatra. Based on observations by Kompas.com, since morning the free mudik participants had gathered at the terminal while waiting for the departure process. They appeared busy carrying various items, from suitcases to boxes of souvenirs. One of the free mudik participants, Giri (57), came from Pamulang, South Tangerang, since dawn to queue for re-registration. Giri headed to Kampung Rambutan Terminal by motorbike with his child. “It’s been two Eids without going for free, because we used a motorbike, but previously (in 2022) I did free mudik,” Giri said when met on Wednesday. This year, Giri no longer went mudik by motorbike because it was considered tiring, especially as his age advances. Meanwhile, bus ticket prices during the mudik season were quite expensive. Therefore, he was very pleased to join the free mudik as it allowed him to save costs. “If by motorbike, usually with my child, but now it already feels tiring. If by regular bus, the ticket is already over Rp 400,000, that’s quite significant. With free mudik, it saves energy and money,” he explained. “This is my first time joining, last year in Pulogebang, this is just an option to save when going back to the village,” he said. If not joining the free mudik, Ahmad usually returns to his hometown in Purwodadi, Central Java, by bus with a ticket price of nearly half a million rupiah. “Usually it can reach Rp 450,000 to Purwodadi, that’s why this time the whole family including parents is doing free mudik, but the family already returned yesterday with the free mudik from the Central Java governor,” he said. After all passengers boarded the buses, the free mudik convoy was officially flagged off by the Head of Kampung Rambutan Terminal, Revi Zulkarnain.