Police Traffic Chief Reveals Strategy to Anticipate Surge of 3.5 Million Homecoming Vehicles
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) is collaborating with stakeholders to prepare for the Lebaran 2026 homecoming and return journey, with the National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas Polri) unveiling a specialised strategy to manage the anticipated surge in vehicles leaving Jakarta, projected at approximately 3.5 million.
The strategy was presented by National Police Traffic Corps Chief (Kakorlantas) Brigadier General Agus Suryonugroho during an Inter-Sector Coordination Meeting on Service Readiness for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah at the Mutiara Auditorium, PTIK, Jakarta, on Monday 2 March 2026.
Brigadier General Agus stated that Operation Ketupat 2026 does not merely focus on the smooth flow of homecoming and return traffic, but also strengthens public security and order (kamtibmas) as well as safety, security, order, and traffic fluidity (kamseltibcarlantas) during the Ramadan period through Eid al-Fitr.
“Operation Ketupat is not merely a traffic operation. The state is present to ensure that the community can undertake their journey safely whilst maintaining conducive kamtibmas and kamseltibcarlantas situations,” said Brigadier General Agus.
He explained that the success of the operation is measured by the overall stability of security and safety. In previous operations, accident fatalities fell by 53 per cent and accident rates decreased by 31 per cent.
To manage vehicle flow, Korlantas Polri has divided homecoming management into five main clusters: toll roads and rest areas, vehicle flow generation forecasting, functional toll routes, Trans-Java routes and alternatives, and Trans-Sumatra routes. All traffic engineering is conducted based on data and real-time technology monitoring.
“We do not work based on instinct. Every traffic engineering decision uses data parameters so that responses can be delivered more quickly,” he emphasised.
Various traffic engineering schemes have been prepared, ranging from contraflow and one-way systems to delay systems to anticipate traffic congestion, including in the Merak-Bakauheni crossing area. Buffer zones and emergency scenarios have also been prepared to address potential operational disruptions.
Security efforts are also focused on national arterial routes, places of worship, and tourist destinations to maintain public security and order stability during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
As a precautionary measure against accidents, Korlantas together with relevant ministries has prepared vehicle inspection checkpoints covering fleet roadworthiness, driver health, and drug testing for public transport drivers before entering the main homecoming routes.
During the coordination meeting, the Traffic Corps Chief also introduced the tagline for Operation Ketupat 2026, “Safe Journey, Happy Family,” as a commitment of Police service to the community.
“What we are securing is not merely vehicle flow, but the journey of Indonesian families. We are present earliest and leave latest,” he concluded.