Peak Return Flow for Eid 2026 Predicted on 28-29 March, Government Urges Avoidance of These Dates!
The government continues to strengthen control over the Eid return flow in 2026 amid persistently high public mobility. Several officials, from the Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri) Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, to Jasa Marga President Director Rivan Achmad Purwantono, have provided the latest updates and anticipatory measures ahead of the peak return flow.
Kapolri Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that the peak return flow has begun to emerge with a significant surge in the number of vehicles returning to Jakarta. As of the latest monitoring, approximately 2.04 million vehicles have entered, out of a total of about 2.52 million vehicles that previously left the Jakarta area.
“The highest peak of the return flow occurred last night with 256,338 vehicles, higher than last year (223,163 vehicles),” Listyo said during a press conference at the Jasa Marga Tollroad Command Centre in Bekasi, West Java, on Wednesday (25/3).
Listyo revealed that on Wednesday (25/3) at 12:00 WIB, 82,000 vehicles had also entered the Jakarta area.
He added that traffic engineering is continuously adjusted based on volume capacity ratio (VC ratio) indicators, ranging from contraflow and partial one-way to national one-way. Currently, the engineering at the Kalilangkung Toll Gate has shifted from national one-way to partial one-way as vehicle density begins to decrease.
Listyo also emphasised the importance of travel safety, advising the public not to push themselves when fatigued and to utilise rest areas or arterial road rest facilities. To ensure smooth return flow, the National Police is extending the security operation period for several more days.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the peak return flow is expected to occur again on 28-29 March 2026. Therefore, the public is urged to take advantage of the work-from-anywhere (WFA) policy and a 30% toll discount applicable on 26-27 March to reduce density.
“We hope the public can schedule their travel times to avoid build-up on 28 and 29 March,” he stressed.
Additionally, Dudy reminded that the government is still imposing restrictions on vehicles with three or more axles until 29 March to maintain traffic flow during the return period.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno previously stated that this year’s outbound flow has proceeded smoothly despite a 4.6% to 5% increase in vehicle volume.
“Alhamdulillah, the outbound flow has gone well, and traffic accidents have decreased by about 16%,” Pratikno said.
He added that this success is the result of collaboration among various parties, including the Ministry of Transport, National Police, state-owned enterprises like Jasa Marga, and real-time data-based monitoring technology support.
Pratikno also warned that the return flow is expected to increase by more than 5% and could pile up at the end of the holiday period. Therefore, the public is asked to return earlier to avoid density.
On the other hand, Jasa Marga President Director Rivan A. Purwantono affirmed that traffic control during the outbound and return periods has shown positive results.
He noted that the vehicle flow surge once reached a historic high of about 270,000 vehicles during the outbound flow. Meanwhile, during the return flow, the peak reached about 256,000 vehicles, approaching last year’s record.
“The traffic engineering control implemented has maintained public comfort during travel,” Rivan said.
He also reiterated the call for the public to utilise the toll discount on 26-27 March so that vehicle flow distribution is more even and not concentrated on the peak return flow.