Ramadan: Police Anticipate Shift in Peak Traffic Hours in Jakarta

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Traffic Directorate of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police is anticipating a shift in peak congestion hours and traffic density during the month of Ramadan, compared with normal days in Greater Jakarta.

“Public traffic movements in the morning will likely occur between 9am and 10am,” said the Head of Operations at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Traffic Directorate, Police Commissioner Robby Hefados, in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

For the afternoon, he noted that traffic congestion would most likely occur between 2pm and 3pm.

“Most likely, many of our residents will want to break their fast with their families,” Robby said.

However, the police are still conducting analysis and projections taking into account the government’s Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy, as well as office activities starting later in the day.

Meanwhile, for busy spots around takjil stalls and Ramadan bazaars, the police have already mapped out the locations, including the popular Bendungan Hilir (Benhil) area.

“We have mapped them out — Benhil is one, and usually Benhil along with several other spots have the potential to disrupt traffic flow. We will deploy traffic personnel in those takjil areas,” he said.

The government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, has determined that the start of fasting, or 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE, falls on Thursday, 19 February 2026, following a decision made through the Isbat Session held at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Tuesday (17/2).

“The Isbat Session has determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE falls on Thursday,” said Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar whilst leading the press conference announcing the session’s outcome.

This decision differs from the central leadership of Muhammadiyah, which had determined the start of Ramadan one day earlier, falling on Wednesday (18/2). Differences in methodology underpin the differing determinations of the start of Ramadan.