Preparations for the 2026 Eid al-Fitr Homecoming: Focus on Toll Road Security, Arterial Roads, and Anticipating a Surge in Travelers
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The Indonesian Traffic Police (Korlantas Polri) has mapped out security strategies for Operation Ketupat 2026, scheduled to take place from March 13-26, 2026. Police Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho explained that the main focus is on managing traffic flow on toll roads, arterial roads, ferry terminals, and places of worship and tourism during the Eid al-Fitr homecoming period.
“For toll roads, the projected number of vehicles passing through the Trans Java and Sumatra toll roads will reach 3.6 million units,” Agus said in Jakarta on Thursday. To anticipate congestion, the Traffic Police will implement traffic management scenarios such as contraflow, one-way systems, and diversions, as well as utilize functional toll roads such as Japek Selatan, Japek II, and several other sections, especially during the return flow.
In addition to toll roads, security will also focus on arterial roads, the Merak-Bakauheni and Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry terminals, and vulnerable locations such as places of worship and tourist destinations. The Traffic Police has identified these critical points to ensure the smooth and safe flow of travelers.
The complete details of Operation Ketupat 2026, including the duration and work-from-anywhere policy, will be officially announced by the National Police Headquarters through the Deputy Chief of Police for Operations (Asops).
Road Repairs on Homecoming Routes in Central Java
At the regional level, the Batang Regency Government in Central Java is accelerating the repair of potholes as a precautionary measure to anticipate the surge in traffic during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr homecoming. Batang Regent Faiz Kurniawan has targeted that all regency roads under local authority will be completed before H-10 of Eid al-Fitr.
“We have instructed that there should be no more potholes on regency roads when travelers start moving. National and provincial roads on the northern coastal route are also targeted for completion by H-10,” he said in Batang on Thursday.
Coordination with the Central Java Provincial Government and the central government is ongoing to handle sections outside the regency’s authority. The Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (DPUPR) of Batang Regency, Endro Suryono, stated that asphalt materials have been distributed and workers have begun patching damaged areas.
Although the repairs are temporary due to budget constraints of around IDR 1 billion and the challenge of high rainfall, the priority remains on the safety of road users.
Ministry of Transportation Projections: West Java to be the Largest Source of Travelers
The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) projects that the total number of people traveling during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr transportation period will reach 143.91 million people, or 50.60 percent of the Indonesian population. West Java province will be the largest contributor to the number of travelers with 30.97 million people, followed by DKI Jakarta (19.93 million) and East Java (17.12 million).
In terms of destinations, Central Java will be the most popular with 38.71 million people, followed by East Java (27.29 million) and West Java (25.09 million). A national survey by the Transportation Policy Agency (BKT) of the Ministry of Transportation shows that densely populated areas such as East Jakarta, Bogor Regency, and Bekasi are the main origins of travel, while regencies in Central Java are the main destinations.