National Police Chief Proposes "First Come First In" System to Prevent Congestion at Ports During Lebaran Exodus
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has recommended implementing a “first come first in” system for boarding vessels to prevent vehicle congestion at ports during the Lebaran 2026 exodus and return traffic.
The National Police Chief highlighted concerns about potential congestion on sea crossing routes during the migration periods for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri in 2026. “Especially during peak outbound migration, we recommend using the first come first in method. If we look at when someone purchases a ship ticket and must board according to the date on the ticket, this will also create potential for congestion,” Sigit stated during an Inter-Sectoral Coordination Meeting at the Mutiara Auditorium of STIK-PTIK in Jakarta on Monday, 2 March 2026.
According to him, flexibility in vehicle loading is crucial when vehicle volume exceeds the harbour waiting area capacity. He therefore requested stakeholders to formulate policies enabling early arrivals to be transported immediately without being constrained by scheduled ticket times.
“So during peak outbound migration, we request permission from relevant stakeholders—whoever arrives first boards the ship directly. We therefore also request that policies be established concerning ferry crossing operations,” Sigit explained.
A traffic alert system has been established with three levels: green status indicates normal queuing within the dock area; yellow status occurs when queuing reaches the Upper Cikuasa fuel station; and red status is declared when queuing reaches the Merak Toll Gate.
Beyond ticket arrangement measures, the National Police Chief has instructed strengthening of buffer zones and additional parking areas to mitigate crossing disruptions from extreme weather expected to persist through March 2026.
“We are also facing potential rainfall that could disrupt the ferry crossing route and create congestion. This must be managed well through field discretion,” Sigit said.
Regarding maritime safety, Sigit has mandated strict health checks for ship captains and crews, including urine tests to ensure freedom from narcotics and alcohol influence.
During Operation Ketupat 2026, the National Police will deploy 161,243 combined personnel to secure the movement of approximately 143.9 million travellers.