Thousands of homeward-bound travellers crowd Ciwandan Port during peak exodus

Cilegon (ANTARA) – The peak Lebaran 2026 exodus has begun to be felt at Ciwandan Port in Cilegon City, Banten, with thousands of homeward-bound travellers, predominantly on two-wheeled vehicles, crowding the alternative port facility from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning.

Ciwandan Port has been refocused by the government to ease the congestion typically occurring at Merak Port, particularly for motorcyclists and logistics trucks seeking passage to Sumatra.

Based on field observations, the volume of two-wheeled vehicles experienced a significant surge on Wednesday morning compared to previous days. Travellers arrived in groups at the port, with the majority choosing to travel during the evening or early morning hours to avoid the intense heat during their journey from the greater Jakarta area.

Field personnel appeared busy yet efficient in regulating the flow of thousands of motorcycles into the port area to ensure orderly boarding processes and prevent traffic disruptions.

To maintain the comfort of travellers waiting in queues, port authorities have provided adequate support facilities. Large tents equipped with cooling fans (blowers) have been set up in the vehicle waiting areas so travellers can rest whilst awaiting their turn to board the vessel.

The enthusiasm for this year’s exodus has been felt directly by travellers themselves. Rahmat (34), a worker from Cikarang intending to return to his hometown in Central Lampung, shared his experience: “I deliberately left after returning from work in the evening so that the weather on the road would be cooler, and I arrived at Ciwandan in the early morning.”

Despite having to queue for over an hour to board the vessel, Rahmat felt that this year’s exodus management was sufficiently organised and he was greatly assisted by the dedicated motorcycle lane.