Mudik Traffic at Lembar Port Remains Sluggish, Vessels Operating Below Capacity

The exodus traffic at Lembar Port, West Lombok, NTB, destined for Padangbai Port, Karangasem, Bali and vice versa has been monitored as sluggish on the fourth day before Idul Fitri 2026.

General Manager of River, Lake, and Strait Transport (ASDP) Lembar, Handoyo Priyanto, stated that there was a 20 per cent increase in travellers from Lembar Port to Padangbai on the sixth day before Idul Fitri. However, in absolute terms, the increase was not significant, with conditions in the field remaining sluggish and even rather quiet.

“There has been a 20 per cent increase, but it really does appear sluggish in the field,” he said when met at ASDP Lembar on Tuesday (17/3/2026).

Handoyo revealed that based on data since ten days before Idul Fitri, the number of passengers entering Lembar Port was recorded as three times higher than those departing towards Padangbai Port.

The sparse exodus traffic from Lembar to Padangbai has also impacted vessel occupancy rates. Several vessels are filled to only around 70 per cent of maximum capacity.

“If calculated from ten days before until yesterday, the number of travellers heading to Padangbai comprised approximately 9,406 foot passengers and those in vehicles. Two-wheeled vehicles numbered around 1,383, four-wheeled vehicles 594, buses 49, and lorries 801,” he explained.

“Whilst those entering Lembar from Padangbai numbered approximately 25,549 passengers,” Handoyo added.

Based on this comparison, Handoyo predicted that peak congestion at Lembar Port would actually occur during the return journey after Idul Fitri.

“Because if we look at the comparison in passenger numbers, the exodus doesn’t appear to be from Lembar, but rather from Padangbai towards Lembar. We predict that it will be rather busy during the return journey,” he concluded.

Despite the sluggish exodus traffic, passenger numbers for 2026’s Idul Fitri holiday period were recorded as increasing 13.19 per cent compared to the same period the previous year.

Handoyo added that today marks the peak of the final mudik service day at Lembar Port. Starting Wednesday (18/3/2026), the port will be temporarily closed until Friday (20/3/2026).

“We have already socialised this, and it will reopen after the Idul Fitri period,” he said.