Supporting safe and convenient Eid homecoming
Mudik, one of the most fascinating traditions in the country, is so massive that millions of people willingly endure long and often exhausting journeys to reunite with their families during the Eid holiday.
This year, an estimated 143.9 million people are expected to travel during the Eid homecoming period, according to the Transportation Ministry. This figure is down 1.75 percent from the 2025 survey estimate of 146 million people.
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the estimate was based on a nationwide survey conducted by the ministry to assess public travel intentions and preferences.
Officials said the data helps authorities prepare transportation services and infrastructure ahead of the annual migration.
To anticipate traffic congestion during the peak of the 2026 Eid homecoming travel period expected on March 18, the government has prepared a series of measures.
Among them is implementing a work-from-anywhere (WFA) policy to help manage the surge in mobility and maintain smoother traffic conditions during the holiday migration.
The policy, set for March 16-17, is intended to spread travel departures over several days rather than concentrating them on a single peak day.
The same arrangement will also apply on March 25-27, when millions of travelers are expected to return to major cities after the holiday.
Authorities expect the staggered work arrangement to encourage workers to begin their journeys earlier and reduce traffic congestion on key routes.
Purwagandhi said the government has also prepared transportation facilities and infrastructure to support smoother travel throughout the homecoming season.
Preparations include deploying personnel and managing transportation routes through coordination among agencies responsible for traffic safety and regulation.
He noted that so far, everything has been running optimally and has been well prepared.
The minister urged travelers to plan their journeys carefully, including by checking departure schedules, monitoring weather conditions, and following official traffic information provided through various channels.
Early preparation, he added, could help travelers avoid unnecessary delays and congestion during the peak period.
Infrastructure and transportation
To ensure safe and comfortable journeys for the public during both the homecoming and return periods, the government has prepared a total of 36,660 transportation vehicles across various modes.
The fleet consists of approximately 31,300 buses for land transportation, 841 ships, and 254 ferries to support inter-island passenger mobility, 372 planes, and 3,893 train cars.
The ministry is also conducting roadworthiness inspections on all modes of transportation through several monitoring instruments such as ramp checks and surveillance on various modes of transportation.
Furthermore, the government is also conducting a digital-based monitoring system, covering transportation facilities such as terminals, ports, airports, train stations, and ferry crossings that serve as points of public movement.
This digital system allows the government to monitor field conditions in real time and make quick decisions to handle congestion or operational disruptions.
Among the busiest transportation hubs during the homecoming period are Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the Merak-Bakauheni ferry crossing, Pasar Senen railway station, and the Pulogebang bus terminal.
Meanwhile, according to Purwagandhi, private cars remain the most popular option with about 76.24 million travelers expected to use them, followed by motorcycles and buses.
State-owned toll operator PT Jasamarga Transjawa Toll Road (JTT) recorded 1.1 million vehicles leaving Jakarta as of Tuesday (March 17) evening.
To anticipate the peak homecoming traffic, the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) will begin implementing a national one-way traffic control system from kilometer 70 of Cikampek to kilometer 414 of Kalikangkung on Wednesday (March 18) noon.
In addition, they will also implement a contraflow system on the toll road from kilometer 55 to kilometer 70 to regulate traffic flow heading towards the Trans Java toll road.
In terms of security, the Indonesian National Police is deploying 161,243 joint personnel from various agencies to ensure security during the Eid holiday.
Health and safety
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has reminded Indonesians traveling for the annual homecoming exodus to remain cautious on the road and maintain their health and safety during their journey.
Travelers are also advised to use routes confirmed to be safe from natural disasters and avoid traveling during heavy rain.
Gibran expressed hope that the opportunity to gather with family and relatives in their hometowns would bring warmth and happiness to those celebrating.
He expressed his hope that the moment of gathering with family and relatives in their hometowns will bring warmth and happiness.
In addition, the vice president conveyed his wishes for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri to Muslims in Indonesia, expressing hope that God’s blessings and protection would continue to be bestowed upon the Indonesian nation.
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