Ministry of Transport Prepares Two Systems at Ports for Lebaran 2026 Exodus
JAKARTA – The Ministry of Transport has prepared a traffic delay management system and buffer zones outside port areas to anticipate vehicle congestion during the Lebaran holiday exodus and return in 2026.
The system will be applied to toll roads and arterial routes leading to ferry ports. This policy is regulated by a Joint Ministerial Decision (SKB) on Road Traffic and Ferry Operations Management during the 2026 Lebaran Transport Period (1447 Hijri), established on 5 February 2026 by the Ministry of Transport, National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas Polri), and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.
Aan Suhanan, Director General of Land Transport, stated that the government has prepared control points to regulate vehicle queues heading to ports. These arrangements apply to traffic towards Merak and Ciwandan Ports, Bakauheni Port and Bandar Bakau Jaya (BBJ) Muara Pilu, as well as the Ketapang–Gilimanuk route.
For traffic heading to Merak and Ciwandan, delaying systems have been prepared at rest areas at KM 43A and KM 68A on the Tangerang–Merak Toll Road, at PT Munic Line land on Jalan Cikuasa Atas, and at the Indah Kiat Port parking area. For traffic to Bakauheni and BBJ, control measures are in place at rest area KM 172B on the Terbanggi Besar–Pematang Panggang–Kayu Agung toll route, and at KM 87B, KM 49B, and KM 20B on the Bakauheni–Terbanggi Besar toll.
On arterial routes, buffer zones are located at the Gayam Agribusiness Terminal, several restaurants, the Old Quarantine Agency Office, the PT SMA special terminal, and the area in front of the BBJ Muara Pilu gate. “The implementation of the delaying system towards Bakauheni and BBJ Muara Pilu spans 10 buffer zone locations with a total parking capacity of up to 1,430 small vehicles,” Suhanan said.
To prevent long queues around ports, ticket purchases will be restricted based on distance. Restrictions apply within a 4.71-kilometre radius from Merak Port and 4.24 kilometres from Bakauheni Port.
On the Java–Bali route, buffer zones towards Ketapang have been prepared at the Grand Watudodol rest area from the Situbondo direction and at the Bulusan Terminal parking area from the Jember direction. Towards Gilimanuk, vehicles are directed to Gilimanuk Cargo Terminal, while motorcycles are directed to Gilimanuk Bus Terminal.
“We have also prepared delaying systems towards Gilimanuk, with buffer zones at Gilimanuk Cargo Terminal, though specifically for motorcycles, the buffer zone is at Gilimanuk Bus Terminal,” Suhanan stated. “With the implementation of delaying systems outside ports, both on toll roads and arterial routes, we hope to prevent congestion at the main port access points,” he added.