Ministry of Transport Inspects 13,584 Buses Ahead of Lebaran Homecoming
The Directorate General of Land Transport (Ditjen Hubdat) at the Ministry of Transport has stepped up safety inspections of bus fleets in anticipation of Lebaran 2026 homecoming travel. The Ministry has also opened a quota for free mudik to discourage long-distance motorcycle journeys.
Director-General of Land Transport Aan Suhanan said the government expects around 143.9 million people, about 50 percent of the population, will undertake mudik this year. As a result, a set of policies has been prepared to anticipate the surge in mobility. “This year, about 143.9 million people will undertake mudik, around 50 percent of the population, so a series of regulations and policies are needed. Since February 23, 2026 ramp checks have been carried out, and 13,584 buses have been inspected,” Aan said during a Dialectics of Democracy discussion titled “Safe and Comfortable Mudik: Government and Community Synergy in Facing Travel Surges” at the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday (Mar 5, 2026).
Of the total inspections, 8,680 units or 63.90 percent were authorised to operate. Meanwhile, 2,844 units or 20.94 percent received improvement warnings; 1,645 units or 12.11 percent were prohibited from operating; and 415 units or 3.06 percent were fined and prohibited from operating.
The safety inspections of bus fleets will continue until March 29, 2026 at various locations including Type A terminals, bus pools, rest areas, toll exits, and accident-prone zones. In addition, the Ministry of Transport is opening a free mudik programme to reduce motorbike usage for long-distance travel. The programme provides quotas for 110,112 individuals using buses, trains, and ships, and 12,140 motorcycles transported by trucks and train.
“We are pursuing this because long-distance motorcycle travel carries a high risk of accidents,” Aan said.
Aan also noted that the government, via the State Secretariat (Kementerian PANRB), issued a work-from-anywhere policy on March 16-17, 2026 for mudik, and March 25-27, 2026 for the return journey. The policy is expected to ease crowding during Lebaran transport.
“Preparing for the Lebaran transport requires synergy and collaboration among ministries/agencies, state-owned enterprises, private sector, and even the public to ensure smooth operation and safety. Stimulus measures such as discounted transport tickets involving the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), and operators are being considered, among other measures,” Aan said.
Aan added that the government, together with Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum dan Ketahanan Jalan and the Traffic Corps of the Indonesian Police (Korlantas Polri), also issued a Joint Decree (SKB) regulating goods transport restrictions, traffic management such as one-way, contra-flow, and odd-even rules, including at crossings.
According to Aan, restrictions on goods transport are designed to safeguard the safety of millions of people undertaking mudik travel rather than to curb business activity. The policies aim to support smooth mobility and logistics distribution.
Additionally, the government and various stakeholders are checking the readiness of mudik routes, repairing provincial and district roads, enhancing ship safety, and controlling phenomena such as the ‘market spills’, tourist sites, and level crossings. The government is also ensuring mosques as traveller rest areas and enhancing security at transport hubs.
“Coordination with various parties is needed to achieve better synchronisation among decision-makers for Lebaran Transport 2026,” said Aan.