Ministry of Public Works encourages Eid travellers to use southern coastal route
Jakarta – The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is encouraging people planning to travel home for the 2026 Eid holiday to use the southern coastal route (pansela) of Java as an alternative travel option.
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo stated that the government continues to ensure that national road infrastructure is ready to facilitate smooth, safe, and comfortable travel for the public during the Eid exodus and return journey.
“The southern coastal route can serve as an alternative travel option for people travelling home for Eid. Besides helping to reduce congestion on main routes such as the Cikampek area, this route also has significant tourism potential as it passes through Java’s southern coastal region,” said Dody in his statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.
In addition to helping ease traffic congestion on the northern coastal route (pantura) and the Trans-Java Toll Road, the southern coastal route also offers a different travel experience with the panoramic views of Java’s southern coast.
Java’s southern route extends from Banten Province to East Java, spanning more than 1,500 kilometres and passing through five provinces: Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta Special Region, and East Java.
Along this corridor, Eid travellers can enjoy various scenic attractions along Java’s southern coast, such as Rancabuaya Beach and Pangandaran Beach in West Java, Parangtritis Beach in Yogyakarta, and the Sendang Biru Beach area in East Java, which serves as a gateway to Sempu Island.
As part of efforts to strengthen infrastructure reliability along the southern coastal corridor, the Ministry of Public Works has completed several preservation and rehabilitation projects, including the rehabilitation of Cidahon Bridge on the national road section from Cilaki to Rancabuaya in Garut Regency, West Java.
The rehabilitation of the 50.7-metre bridge was carried out by the Major Implementation Office for National Roads (BBPJN) of Jakarta and West Java, Directorate General of Highways, beginning in October 2025 and completed 100 per cent. The rehabilitation work was undertaken to improve the structural reliability of the bridge and ensure road user safety.
During the 2026 Eid exodus and return period, the Ministry of Public Works is also setting up assistance posts at various national road sections throughout Indonesia, including along the southern coastal route from Banten to East Java.
Nationally, 496 mudik assistance posts have been deployed along with support from 1,461 Disaster Relief Unit vehicles comprising equipment and materials for emergency response to ensure smooth travel for the public during the Eid exodus and return journey.