Traders at Rajamandala Bridge in Bandung Ready to Serve Homecoming Travellers

Cianjur — Traders in the Rajamandala Bridge area, West Bandung Regency, West Java, are beginning to prepare for the Eid homecoming rush despite sales remaining relatively quiet seven days before the festival.

Mia, a cincau (grass jelly drink) vendor at the location, said she has been selling in the bridge area since 2010. “Initially I only sold cincau. From 2010 to 2011, I could earn up to IDR 2 million a day when it was busy,” Mia said at her stall on Saturday.

According to her, conditions in the Rajamandala area changed after the Cipularang Toll Road began operating, as many vehicles chose the toll route rather than passing through the regular road. Currently, income from selling near the bridge has declined significantly.

Another trader, Reni, said vehicle traffic through seven days before Eid has not yet had a significant impact on customer numbers. “It’s still quiet now. It usually gets busy three days before Eid,” Reni said.

She added that most customers are homecoming travellers who stop to rest while passing through the Bandung to Cianjur route. According to Reni, increases in customers typically occur at night because many travellers prefer to continue their journey when the temperature is cooler. “It’s usually busier at night. Most of those who stop are motorcyclists,” she said.

Another trader, Hani, also estimated that a surge in customers would only be felt closer to Eid. “It usually gets busy from three days to one day before Eid,” Hani said.

The Rajamandala Bridge itself, according to Mia, is a connecting route between West Bandung and Cianjur Regency that has existed since approximately the 1980s and was once a toll road before being opened as a public road in 1996.