Police Chief Ensures Optimal Management of Return Traffic Flow

Bekasi (ANTARA) - The Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri), General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, has assured that traffic management for the 2026 Lebaran return flow is running well and optimally after inspecting the Jasa Marga Toll Road Command Center in Jatiasih, Bekasi, on Wednesday.

Kapolri stated that his side is anticipating the peak of the subsequent return flow, expected to occur on 28 and 29 March.

“Alhamdulillah, this means we see that the peak return flow more or less happened last night (Tuesday, 24/3), and now we just need to manage the rest (subsequent return flow),” said Sigit.

He revealed that the peak of the first wave of return flow took place on Tuesday (24/3), with a recorded 256,338 vehicles entering the Jakarta and surrounding areas.

This number is higher than the same period last year, which recorded 223,163 vehicles.

Cumulatively up to Tuesday (24/3) afternoon, around 2.04 million vehicles have returned to Jakarta and surrounding areas, out of a total of 2.521 million vehicles that previously left the capital during the outbound flow.

“So, we hope that in the remaining time, because another return flow peak is predicted on the 28th and 29th (March), the remaining vehicles that have not returned and possibly additions from people heading to Jakarta,” he said.

Kapolri assured that the handling of the return flow is running optimally and safely by implementing traffic engineering policies, including national and local one-way systems as well as contraflow.

Sigit said that the police and other relevant parties continue to be vigilant and anticipate the second wave of return flow, considering that there are still outbound travellers who choose to delay their return.

“We have started to change the engineering for the national one-way to a sectional one-way. However, we remain vigilant if there is a high surge, we will have to adjust accordingly,” he said.

Sigit added that with the end of Operation Ketupat 2026 on 25 March, the National Police will remain on alert in providing security and services by enhancing routine activities.

“This is all part of the effort to ensure that the entire outbound and return flow can be properly maintained,” he said.