Provinces prepare for annual Idul Fitri exodus

Provinces prepare for annual Idul Fitri exodus

JAKARTA (JP): Government offices across the country are
intensifying preparations to facilitate the exodus of 26.2
million people from urban centers to towns and villages for the
Idul Fitri holiday.

Antara reported yesterday that 16,232 members of the Armed
Forces and other institutions will be deployed to maintain
security during the celebrations in West Java.

Provincial police chief Maj. Gen. Chairuddin Ismail said in
Bandung Tuesday that several incidents had indicated the province
could see disturbances during the holiday.

He said violence, murder and accidents were on the rise and
should therefore be handled appropriately.

The police have set up 211 command posts along main roads for
the Jan. 20 to Feb. 8 period to help motorists. The posts are
being manned by medics and mechanics.

In Semarang, Central Java, the main bus station Terboyo has
prepared 1,621 buses, plus 100 reserve buses, to cope with the
increase in travelers a week before and after Idul Fitri which,
according to government calendars, falls on Jan. 30.

The provincial office of the Ministry of Public Works has
prepared water pumps in case of floods which could hamper
traffic. The pumps have already been set up at some flood-prone
areas such as Brebes regency.

In Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, the news agency
reported that the administration has prepared 11,684 public
transportation vehicles to serve the population of 4.3 million
people.

This includes 2,130 local transportation vehicles, 795
interprovince buses, and 4,952 minibuses for the villages. The
administration has also provided 75 extra buses as reserve, and a
25 percent discount will apply for all public transportation.

The Palembang Port Authority in South Sumatra will deploy the
express ship Bahari-5 from Jan. 25 to facilitate travel. The ship
has a capacity of 217 passengers. Another four ships have already
been deployed.

The port predicted a 25 percent increase in the number of
travelers from Palembang to Muntok on Bangka Island during the
Idul Fitri holiday.

In Central Sulawesi, it was reported that the provincial
police will deploy thousands of members, including 400 personnel
in the capital of Palu, to maintain law and order during the
festivities.

The police officers will be posted to festive centers such as
shopping malls, mosques and the main thoroughfare, Antara quoted
police spokesman Major Agus Sugiono as saying.

The provincial office of the Ministry of Transportation has
prepared 350 buses to serve travelers in the province.

Peak

Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto urged Tuesday
all field personnel under his ministry to be ready for an
increase in traffic this Saturday and Sunday when large numbers
of people will return to their home towns or villages for Idul
Fitri.

A total 26.2 million people are expected to travel over the
holiday this year with 23.5 million of them likely to travel
overland, Director General of Land Transportation Santo Budiono
was quoted by Antara as saying.

"We have prepared buses as well as trains to meet the
transportation needs during those days," he said.

Accidents

The news agency also quoted Singgih Abadi from the state
railway company Perumka as saying that 423 out of the total 700
railway crossings between Purworejo in Central Java and Ciamis in
West Java, are regular sites of accidents because they have no
gates.

The crossings will be guarded by Perumka employees over the
holiday, but there may not be enough men, said Singgih.

"We are calling on motorists to be really careful when they
come to the railway crossings," Singgih said.

He also warned that some areas in Central Java, such as
Karangsari, Kali Logawa, Karanggandul, Jeruk Legi and
Kawunganten, are prone to landslides and floods.

In Semarang, for instance, 561 railway crossings do not have
guards and are therefore also common sites of accidents. The
railway stretches from Bojonegoro to Pekalongan, and a train
passes every 18 minutes.

The road stretching along the northern coast of Java is also
considered a frequent site of accidents because of the frequent
bottlenecks and unfinished construction work.

Along the road connecting Karawang and Cirebon in West Java,
for instance, there are dozens of bridges still under repair or
construction, including the Jatisari and Cikampek bridges. There
are also several bridges under repair in Indramayu.

Bottlenecks are common along the road connecting Ciasem,
Subang, Batangsari, and Pamanukan. (swe)