Peak Homecoming and Return Traffic for Eid 2026 Predicted to Occur in Two Waves
The largest concentration of public mobility is expected to occur across Central Java, East Java, and West Java regions.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Transportation, approximately 143.9 million journeys are estimated as people travel home for Eid. Based on destinations, Central Java and East Java are expected to receive the highest volume of homecoming traffic, followed by West Java, Yogyakarta, and South Sulawesi.
The forecast indicates that peak homecoming traffic will occur in two waves, specifically on 14-15 March and 18-19 March. The return traffic is predicted to peak on 24-25 March, with a second peak on 28-29 March.
In terms of transportation modes, private vehicles remain the primary choice for returning home. Approximately 52 per cent of travellers are estimated to use private cars. Following private vehicles, motorcycles and public buses are the most commonly used modes of transport. Other transportation options include ferries, aeroplanes, intercity trains, and ships.
The significant burden of Eid travel falls primarily on major roads, including toll roads, national highways, and arterial roads leading to destination regencies and cities.
Police Deploy 161,000 Personnel
The National Police (Polri) has revealed that 161,243 combined personnel will be deployed during Operation Ketupat 2026 to secure the Eid homecoming period. A total of 2,746 security posts have been established at various locations.
In Operation Ketupat 2026, Polri is deploying 161,243 combined personnel consisting of Polri officers and related agencies. The police have also established 2,746 security posts, comprising 1,624 security posts, 779 service posts, and 343 integrated posts.
Polri has mapped congestion points across all regions during the Eid period, not only along homecoming routes but also at locations likely to experience heavy traffic during the Eid holidays.
The police have identified several arterial routes requiring special attention, including Nagreg, Legian Bali, routes to Lake Toba, Gadog Puncak, and Simpang Tiga Mengkreng. Additionally, several ferry routes have been identified as priority areas, including Surabaya, Ketapang-Gilimanuk, Bali-Lombok, and Merak-Bakauheni.
Polri has emphasised that traffic management this year will not rely solely on conventional traffic engineering measures such as one-way systems or contraflow, but will also prioritise transformation of public services through emergency response digitalisation. The police continue to enhance services to the public through various facilities, including the emergency hotline 110, which is accessible to travellers during the homecoming journey.