Preparations underway to facilitate Idul Fitri travelers

JAKARTA (JP): Idul Fitri is still seven days away, but the annual exodus has already begun.

Jakarta's bus terminals and railway stations were already jammed yesterday. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the Tanjung Priok harbor in Jakarta and Merak ferry terminal in the westernmost tip of West Java were also packed with holiday makers. The peak of the exodus will begin next Thursday and will ease two days after Idul Fitri.

The Idul Fitri holidays fall on next Sunday and Monday (Feb. 9 and Feb. 10). As usual, Indonesian Moslems will be spending the holidays in their home villages.

The Ministry of Transportation has estimated that the number of this year's travelers may reach 25 million people. About 16 million passengers are predicted to make their homebound mudik trip using land transportation means, 1.1 million by air, 1 million by sea and 2.5 million by ferry.

The Jakarta administration estimates that more than three million of the city's nine million people will join this year's Idul Fitri exodus.

Adding to the crowd this year are Indonesians of Chinese descent, who will celebrate the Lunar New Year on Friday (Feb. 7). Because of the government's restriction on Chinese New Year celebrations, most are expected to head overseas or throng the country's tourist destinations.

As usual, this year's Idul Fitri holidays might be colored by traffic congestion all over Java, Bali and some parts of Sumatra. The largest concentration of traffic will be on the most densely populated island of Java. During the peak days, the authorities will have to make special traffic arrangements, especially along two main routes in Java -- the northern and southern routes.

Efforts would prove fruitless in trying to prevent people from heading to their hometowns for the Idul Fitri celebrations. Many government officials, including Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, have frequently called on people to stay in the capital during Idul Fitri, but only a few have responded to the government's appeal.

As a result, the government has no choice but to prepare its best facilities to help these travelers reach their hometowns in a safe and comfortable way. Preparations are being made by the relevant government agencies to help millions of people enjoy their homebound travel.

Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said recently he expected that this year's Idul Fitri exodus would be more organized than in previous years.

The provincial administrations of Lampung, South Sumatra, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java and Bali have pledged to do their best to improve various infrastructure and traffic signs, in addition to distributing information about alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion on certain routes.

Public and private transportation companies have already prepared for the big surge.

The authorities have prepared 38,500 buses which will be capable of transporting 1.8 million passengers a day during the peak days. In anticipation of stranded passengers, the authorities will also provide additional buses at bus and railway stations.

The state-owned railway company PT Perumka, Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Nusantara and Sempati Air are ready to provide hundreds of extra flight services for the huge number of travelers (see tables). The state-owned shipping company PT Pelni and private liners will also provide additional sea transportation services.

Security

Tens of thousands of officers will be ready to regulate traffic and to safeguard Idul Fitri travelers. Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata recently said a total of 13,592 policemen and soldiers will be deployed to assure security and order in the capital. In areas of West Java, around 12,000 security personnel will be ready to assist travelers and motorists.

The government will also build temporary posts along the busy routes for people to take a rest, ask for information, obtain medical aid or just drink coffee.

Numerous makeshift auto repair posts opened by private car companies -- including Indo Mobil Group, Toyota, Opel, Mercedes- Benz and Honda -- will be available along major routes on the islands of Java and Bali.

This year's plans to ensure Idul Fitri transportation and security are seemingly perfect. But the situation in previous years is a different story. Despite additional transport fleets, thousands of people failed to get out of the capital. Additional buses and trains were insufficient, as thousands of people jostled and fought for every inch available on buses and trains leaving Jakarta.

Serious traffic congestion and accidents happened on several main routes, including Jakarta-Puncak-Bandung, Jakarta-Cikampek- Bandung and roads along the northern coast of Java (Pantura route). Last year, 11,709 traffic accidents occurred during the Idul Fitri holidays.

Director General of Land Transportation Santo Budiono has warned both private and public transportation drivers to increase their discipline when they drive on heavily congested routes, especially those mentioned above.

"Traffic flow will be better if drivers are more disciplined," he said.

Budiono expected that during the peak of the Idul Fitri exodus, the number of vehicles passing through the Cikampek toll road will increase to 375,000 per day this year, from 125,000 vehicles per day last year.

Danger

In addition to traffic congestion, homebound travelers should also pay serious attention to several dangerous and flood-prone routes. Motorists heading to areas in Central and East Java are advised to take the southern route.

Travelers driving along the southern route should be watchful in areas between Wangon, Majenang, Purworedjo and Kebumen in Central Java.

On the northern coast route, several dangerous areas are located in Jatibarang, Palimanan, Tanjung, Slawi and Margasari, Bawen and Magelang, and Salatiga and Boyolali.

To warn motorists of the danger, PT Jasa Rahardja insurance company has erected more than 12,000 traffic warning signs all over Java's main routes.

In addition to these dangerous areas, motorists should be watchful if they are intending to use some flood-prone roads on the northern coast. These flood-prone roads are those linking Pamanukan and Lohbener, Lohbener and Indramayu, Karangampel and Cirebon, Kendal and Semarang, and the Losari-Tegal-Pemalang- Pekalongan-Waleri route.

The Meteorological and Geophysics Agency predicts cloudy skies between January and March all over Java.

It might rain heavily in West Java and Central Java.

"Heavy rainfall is predicted to continue over the next two months," the agency reported.

The agency has called on all related government agencies to keep alert for possible flooding in several flood-prone areas, especially on the northern coast of Java, such as in Pekalongan, where one-meter-high water inundated the city's main roads last Thursday.

The intensity of rainfall will sharply increase by the end of January and early February.

According to the agency's report, rainfall in Cengkareng, West Jakarta exceeded 103 millimeters between Jan. 13 and Jan. 14. In Pasar Minggu (South Jakarta), it reached 170 millimeters, in Bekasi (West Java) 120 millimeters, and in Semarang (Central Java), between 145 millimeters and 160 millimeters on Jan 16 and Jan. 17. Over 50 millimeters is considered heavy rain, the agency reported.

To prevent travelers from encountering possible traffic congestion on the flood-prone roads, the Central Java provincial administration has prepared a number of alternative roads when the Idul Fitri exodus culminates between Feb. 5 and Feb. 9.

Lt. Col. Bardja, spokesman for the Central Java Police, said the Central Java administration has made all-out preparations to facilitate the Idul Fitri exodus.

"Infrastructure facilities, including roads and bridges, have already been repaired to ease traffic in these areas, " he said. (raw)