Three Days Until Eid: Merak Port Sees Surge of Travellers This Afternoon

Private vehicle travellers began filling Merak Port in Cilegon, Banten, with vehicles occupying the waiting area at Executive Pier 6.

On observation at the location on Tuesday, 17 March 2026, at approximately 2:45pm Western Indonesian Time, weather at Merak Port was hot. Vehicles began entering Merak Port’s gates in succession.

A number of these vehicles headed towards lanes prepared in the buffer zone or waiting area at the port. A total of 33 lanes were prepared as waiting areas, with each lane able to accommodate approximately 12 vehicles.

More than half of the buffer zone area had been filled by vehicles. They took turns exiting and entering the dock area. Meanwhile, newly arriving vehicles immediately occupied the empty lanes that had been prepared.

Banten Police Traffic Director Kombes Arief Kurniawan previously predicted that peak homebound traffic would fall on 17 and 18 March 2026.

“We are still referring to the start of that period around 17 and 18 March. Today falls within that period and the next two days,” said Arief on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.

He stated that homebound travellers would become increasingly busy today, with most beginning to arrive at Merak or Ciwandan ports from late afternoon approaching evening prayers.

“Based on patterns from year to year, and expected for the 2026 exodus, there will be an increase or surge in the evening period, starting from around 6pm until morning approaching dawn prayers,” he said.

According to him, homebound travellers aim to reach Lampung province by morning, allowing them to continue their journey during morning and afternoon hours on the island of Sumatra.