Stranded Returnees in Gilimanuk During Nyepi to Be Provided with Communal Kitchens

PT ASDP, the police, and several related parties are preparing anticipatory measures if many returnees are held up during Nyepi due to the closure of Gilimanuk Port on Thursday morning (19/3/2026). One of them is preparing a communal kitchen in Gilimanuk.

So far, Jembrana Police Chief AKBP Kadek Citra Dewi Suparwati remains optimistic that all vehicles can cross on time before Nyepi.

“We have coordinated with ASDP; if they cannot (cross on time), a communal kitchen will be provided at the port by ASDP,” said Citra on Wednesday (18/3/2026).

In line with instructions from Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi, who visited Gilimanuk and Ketapang Ports on Tuesday (17/3/2026), Citra continued, vehicle owners and their passengers will be prioritised for crossing. Meanwhile, vehicles will be left in Bali.

“We will endeavour to ferry the returnees if their vehicles can no longer be transported. The vehicles will be left behind, and the people will be ferried across. In Ketapang, the technical arrangements will be prepared accordingly, as it is easier for people to carry out activities there compared to Bali during Nyepi,” Citra concluded.

Operations at Gilimanuk Port will be closed starting at 05:00 WITA on Thursday (19/3/2026). However, up to one day before the closure, outbound traffic from Bali is still monitored as heavy, dominated by private vehicles.

Vehicle queues today, Wednesday (18/3/2026), around 15:30 WITA, reached the Cekik Forest area in Gilimanuk or about 7 kilometres from Gilimanuk Port. As a result, there are concerns that many returnees will be trapped in Nyepi in Gilimanuk.

“This afternoon, the queue had already reached Cekik Forest, and we have reactivated the cargo terminal for private vehicle queues. Hopefully, all returnees can cross before Nyepi,” Citra stated.