Passenger Traffic on Trans Sumatra Highway Predicted to Rise, Hutama Karya on Standby at 822 Kilometres
PT Hutama Karya has convened a Lebaran 2026 exodus readiness ceremony to strengthen operational readiness and service delivery on the toll roads under its management, particularly the Trans Sumatra Toll Road network (JTTS), to ensure that the Eid al-Fitr exodus and return journeys proceed smoothly, safely, and comfortably.
The readiness ceremony was held at the Rest Area KM 397 Jalur B Palembang-Betung Toll Road in South Sumatra as part of the company’s efforts to prepare for increased population mobility during the 2026 Lebaran exodus season. The activity was led by Hutama Karya’s Operations Director III, Iwan Hermawan, who served as the ceremony’s supervisor.
“This readiness ceremony is an initial step to strengthen operational preparedness whilst reinforcing coordination with various relevant agencies to ensure toll road services operate optimally during the exodus period,” said Iwan.
The ceremony was also attended by representatives of various government agencies and related authorities, including the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Land Transport Management Centre (BPTD), the Transportation Department, the National Road Implementation Authority (BBPJN), as well as police and local government officials.
During this occasion, Hutama Karya also formally established the representatives of the 2026 Lebaran Exodus Service Management Team as a symbol of the organisation’s readiness to provide services during the exodus and return periods.
Iwan emphasised the importance of collaboration between Hutama Karya and the police, transportation authorities, local governments, and various related agencies to ensure smooth exodus traffic flow. He also revealed that vehicle traffic on the Trans Sumatra Toll Road is projected to increase by approximately 47.67% compared to normal conditions during the Lebaran period.
Toll Infrastructure Guaranteed Ready
As part of exodus preparations, Hutama Karya has completed all routine and periodic maintenance work on the toll road sections under its management.
With the completion of this work, all toll road sections are guaranteed to be in condition to serve road users without any construction work that could potentially disrupt travel.
During the 2026 Lebaran exodus period, Hutama Karya will operate a total of 822.609 kilometres of toll roads.
Overall, Hutama Karya manages 14 toll road sections, comprising 12 toll sections, one untolled section, and two functional sections or segments.
To address the surge in vehicles during the Lebaran period, Hutama Karya has prepared various service strategies across all toll road sections under its management. These steps include the provision of safety facilities, implementation of Integrated Traffic System (ITS) technology, improvement of rest area quality, and tightening supervision of Over Dimension Over Load (ODOL) vehicles. Additionally, the company has launched a travel guide titled “Trans Sumatra Guide Book: Nearby and Warm Exodus on Hutama Karya Toll Roads.”
The guide can be downloaded through the company’s official website and contains important information for exodus travellers, such as toll network maps, rest area locations, toll rates, and call centre numbers.
As a precautionary step against vehicle congestion, Hutama Karya together with stakeholders has also prepared traffic engineering measures, including the implementation of a holding system at rest areas to maintain smooth traffic flow on main toll road sections.
Hutama Karya urges road users to always prioritise safety during their journeys. Drivers are asked to ensure sufficient electronic money balance, use one card for one vehicle, observe speed limits, and rest at rest areas if feeling tired or sleepy. For emergency situations or current travel information, road users can also contact the call centre for each toll section or access Hutama Karya’s official social media channels.
Cumulatively, total daily traffic on the already operational Trans Sumatra toll road sections reaches 120,757 vehicles, an increase of 28.78% during the Isra and Miraj holiday compared to normal traffic.
In anticipation of increased traffic flow during the 2025 Christmas and New Year 2026 (Nataru) holidays, rest areas on the Trans Sumatra Toll Road will operate 24 hours round the clock.
Behind this mega strategic scheme, field challenges cannot be overlooked. One of the main challenges is land acquisition, which requires more than 35,000 hectares.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has resumed seizures in a suspected corruption case regarding land acquisition around the Trans Sumatra Toll Road (JTSS). Among those implicated are the former Director General of PT Hutama Karya Realitindo Koentjoro and former Director of PT STJ Setya Shri Laksana.
A ceremony parade at the Regional Division I Office in North Sumatra marked the beginning of the 2026 Lebaran Transportation Post, which will run from 13 to 30 March 2026.
Semarang General Ahmad Yani International Airport will operate a Lebaran post from Friday (13/3) to Monday (30/3) as passenger numbers during the exodus period are projected to increase.
Camera systems are increasingly being used inside transport vehicles such as buses and trains, enabling operators to monitor activities from various angles in real-time.
Officers conducted roadworthiness inspections of Lebaran transport vehicles at the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) Motor Vehicle Testing (PKB) of the Cimahi City Transportation Department.
In addition to providing vehicle parking services, the police have also reminded residents to ensure their homes are in a secure condition before being left unoccupied.