Preparations underway to facilitate Idul Fitri travelers

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)