Ministry of Transportation Estimates 3.87 Million People Will Travel from South Sumatra

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Ministry of Transportation estimates that 3.87 million people will travel from South Sumatra during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr transportation period. The province is considered to have a strategic role as a major connectivity hub in the central corridor of Sumatra.

Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi said that coordination with the South Sumatra Provincial Government is an important step to ensure transportation readiness. “Strengthening coordination and strategic partnerships between the Ministry of Transportation and the South Sumatra Provincial Government is a key factor in ensuring that the 2026 Eid al-Fitr transportation period runs safely, orderly, smoothly, and securely,” said Dudy during a meeting with the Governor of South Sumatra, Herman Deru, in Palembang, Wednesday (February 25, 2026).

Dudy said that South Sumatra is one of the regions with high mobility during the Eid al-Fitr period. The movement of people heading to the South Sumatra region is estimated to reach 3.85 million people.

“The flow of people in and out of this region is projected to increase from Lampung and Jambi, both through land routes, namely the Trans Sumatra Toll Road and the Sumatra Cross-Island Road Network, as well as through air, rail, and ferry transportation to Palembang and its surroundings,” said Dudy.

According to Dudy, private vehicles will still be the dominant mode of transportation during the Eid al-Fitr period. This condition has the potential to increase traffic congestion, especially on arterial roads and inter-regional connecting roads.

Dudy said that the vehicle flow will be concentrated in two main corridors, namely the East Cross Road connecting Lampung, Palembang, and Jambi, and the Central Cross Road via Baturaja, Lahat, and Lubuk Linggau.

“Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen optimal traffic management, increase safety supervision, and prepare facilities and infrastructure in each of these strategic corridors,” said Dudy.