Ministry of Transport Implements Delaying System and Buffer Zones at Ports During 2026 Eid Exodus
The Ministry of Transport (Kemenhub) will implement a delaying system and establish buffer zones outside ports to manage vehicle congestion and accommodate passengers without advance tickets during the 2026 Eid holiday travel season. The delaying system will be applied at various points along both toll roads and arterial roads leading to ferry terminals.
The regulations governing the delaying system and buffer zones have been established through a joint decision (SKB) Number KP-DRJD 854 Year 2026, Number HK.201/1/21DJPL/2026, Number 20/KPTS/Db/2026, and Number Kep/43/II/2026 dated 5 February 2026 concerning road traffic and passenger ferry operations during the 2026 Eid travel exodus and return period (1447 Hijriah), signed by the Directors General of Land Transport and Sea Transport at Kemenhub, the National Police Traffic Command, and the Director General of Road Development at the Public Works Ministry.
“We have prepared a delaying system strategy and positioned buffer zones at multiple points to manage vehicle queues heading to the ports, preventing congestion at main access points,” stated the Director General of Land Transport, Aan Suhanan, in a statement in Jakarta on Monday, 2 March.
Aan explained that the delaying system and buffer zones are directed towards Merak Port, Bakauheni Port, Ketapang Port, and Gilimanuk Port.
In detail, the delaying system towards Merak and Ciwandan will be applied at rest areas at KM 43A and KM 68A on the Tangerang-Merak toll road, and on PT Munic Line land at Cikuasa Atas road and Pelabuhan Indah Kiat parking area.
Additionally, Aan stated that travel delay arrangements and buffer zones will also be established towards Bakauheni Port and Bandar Bakau Jaya (BBJ) Muara Pilu at rest area KM 172B on the Terbanggi Besar–Pematang Panggang–Kayu Agung toll road section, and at KM 87B, 49B, and 20B on the Bakauheni–Terbanggi Besar toll road section. On non-toll (arterial) roads, these will be located at Terminal Agribisnis Gayam, RM Gunung Jati, RM Tiga Saudara, the Old Veterinary Quarantine Office, PT SMA’s special terminal port, and at the gate entrance to PT BBJ Muara Pilu.
“The delaying system towards Bakauheni and BBJ Muara Pilu is distributed across 10 buffer zone points with a total parking capacity of 1,430 small vehicles. The implementation will run from 13 to 29 March 2026,” Aan explained.
Meanwhile, to prevent long queues in the port vicinity, Aan continued, ticket purchase restrictions will be imposed with a prohibition radius of 4.71 kilometres from Merak Port’s outer centre point (with Hotel Pesona Merak as the reference), and 4.24 kilometres from Bakauheni Port’s outer centre point (with Veterinary Quarantine Office as the reference).
Additionally, buffer zones towards Ketapang Port from the Situbondo direction will be established at Grand Watudodol rest area. Furthermore, provisions for Ketapang destinations from the Jember direction have also been prepared at Dermaga Bulusan parking pocket.
“We have also prepared the delaying system towards Gilimanuk, with buffer zones at Gilimanuk Cargo Terminal. However, specifically for motorcycles, the buffer zone will be at Gilimanuk Bus Terminal,” Aan explained.
The Ministry of Transport and stakeholders have also arranged the delaying system and buffer zones for restricting cargo transport operations towards Ketapang Port from the Situbondo direction at PT Pusri’s warehouse field in Tanjung Wangi Port area and Sritanjung Terminal. From the Jember direction, this will be at Dermaga Bulusan parking field.
Additionally, buffer zones for restricting cargo transport operations destined for Gilimanuk Port have been established at cargo terminals, UPPKB Cekik, the access road section to Gilimanuk LCM Wharf, PDC Gilimanuk PT Agung Automall, and Suzuki Bali’s main warehouse. The destination to Tanjung Wangi port is directed to the parking space at Kampung Anyar, Ketapang Village, and the former TUKS PT Pusri.
Aan stated that the Ministry of Transport, together with stakeholders, has also prepared measures to restrict ticket purchases to prevent vehicle congestion in the port area. Ticket purchase restrictions will be implemented with a prohibition radius of 2.65 kilometres from Ketapang Port’s outer centre point (with Sri Tanjung Terminal as the reference) and 2.0 kilometres from Gilimanuk Port’s outer centre point (with Cargo Terminal as the reference).
“With the implementation of the delaying system outside ports, whether on toll roads or arterial roads, it is hoped that congestion at port access points will be prevented. We are optimistic that, with cooperation from all parties both government and the public, the Eid exodus and return traffic this year can proceed safely, smoothly, and in a controlled manner,” Aan concluded.