Peak Return Traffic for 2026 Predicted to Exceed 285,000 Vehicles, Transport Minister Urges Commuters to Avoid 24 March

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has urged the public to be vigilant regarding the surge in vehicle volumes during the Lebaran 2026 return period. Based on monitoring data from the Jasamarga Tollroad Command Center (JMTC), the peak of the first return wave is predicted to fall on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, with an estimated volume exceeding 285,000 vehicles. This figure is higher than the outbound peak record on 18 March, which served 270,315 vehicles. The Minister has advised commuters to reschedule their return trips to avoid severe traffic jams. “We urge the public to return to Jabotabek earlier on 23 March, or to utilise the period of 25-27 March 2026 with the government-recommended Work From Anywhere (WFA) scheme,” Dudy stated during his inspection of the JMTC on Sunday (22/3). In agreement with the Transport Minister, the Head of the National Traffic Corps of the Indonesian National Police, Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho, highlighted three critical dates predicted to be the highest density points for return traffic: 24, 28, and 29 March 2026. He called for commuter cooperation to avoid travelling on those dates simultaneously, allowing for more effective and safer on-site traffic management. As an incentive to disperse the density, the President Director of PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk, Rivan A. Purwantono, announced a 30 percent toll fee discount for road users. This discount applies for two days, on 26-27 March 2026, across nine Jasa Marga Group toll roads for continuous journeys. “The aim is to keep the distribution of return traffic volumes under control. We ask the public to choose the return times recommended by the government for a more comfortable trip,” Rivan said. Rivan added that his company has prepared 24-hour field personnel and optimised toll gates as well as toll road service fleets. The use of JMTC technology is also being strengthened to support real-time traffic engineering decision-making. Additionally, authorities have reiterated the prohibition on vehicles with three or more axles (goods trucks) from passing, in accordance with the Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB) effective until 29 March 2026.