Peak Homecoming Traffic at Merak-Ciwandan Ports Predicted for 18-19 March

The Director of ASDP Indonesia Ferry, Heru Widodo, has predicted that peak homecoming traffic for the 2026 Lebaran exodus at Merak and Ciwandan ports in Banten will occur on 18 and 19 March.

“Our prediction is that peak homecoming traffic will occur on 18 and 19 March,” Heru stated at the KM43 Rest Area on the Tangerang-Merak toll road on Sunday, 15 March.

Heru noted that there has already been a 5 per cent increase in both vehicles and travellers crossing from Java to Sumatra compared to normal days.

“At seven days before the holiday, there has already been an increase, particularly amongst two-wheeled vehicle users and family vehicles. For this year’s projection, we estimate a 9.3 per cent increase in cross-strait traffic compared to last year,” he said.

Heru, a former member of the Indonesian Parliament representing the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, noted that the 2026 Eid al-Fitr celebration may be observed differently this year.

According to him, the public has more flexibility in choosing when to travel for the holiday due to the different timing of Lebaran and the government’s Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy.

“This Lebaran may be different. With the government’s Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy, extended public and collective holidays, the public has more flexibility in choosing the time for their journey,” he said.