Traffic Police Chief: Eid Exodus Peak Expected on 17-18 March
Jakarta — Indonesia’s national police traffic commander, Lieutenant General Agus Suryonugroho, has predicted that the peak of the 2026 Eid exodus will occur between 17 and 18 March. This forecast forms the basis for traffic engineering preparations along the main Trans-Java route.
Agus conveyed this information during an inspection of the Integrated Command Post for Operation Ketupat Lodaya 2026 run by the West Java Police (Jabar) at the KM 57 Rest Area on the Jakarta–Cikampek toll road on Sunday, 15 March 2026. During the visit, he received briefings from West Java Police officials regarding scenarios for managing security and traffic during the exodus period.
“We have already used digital technology to monitor, make decisions, and gather real data as the basis for decision-making. We estimate that 17 to 18 will be the peak flow period,” the two-star general said at KM 57.
Agus explained that vehicle flow monitoring is conducted through a digital system, which allows officials to obtain traffic data in real time. This data serves as the basis for determining traffic management policies when there is a surge in vehicles on the toll route.
He continued that traffic engineering preparations include implementing contraflow and one-way schemes on routes towards Trans-Java. These policies will be applied according to vehicle volume parameters passing through the route.
“Starting with one-lane contraflow with a parameter of 5,500 vehicles per hour passing on the Trans-Java direction. If in the next hour the volume reaches 6,400 vehicles, then two-lane contraflow will be implemented,” Agus said.
The traffic police chief appreciated the readiness of the Integrated Command Post for Operation Ketupat Lodaya, which is integrated with technological infrastructure support. The post serves as the coordination centre for traffic monitoring and security during the exodus period.
Agus assessed that traffic conditions at the beginning of Operation Ketupat remain orderly and controlled. Safety data also shows a decline in fatal accident casualties in the West Java region compared to the same period the previous year.
“The fatality indicator has actually dropped by 91 per cent from last year. Last year 26 people died, now only one,” he said.
West Java Police Chief of Operations Brigadier Laode Aries El Fathar confirmed that security preparations for the region have been carried out before Operation Ketupat begins. The security measures were initiated through traffic safety operations and public health operations to create a conducive situation.
“We wish to emphasise that in principle, West Java Police is ready to secure the activities and implementation of Operation Ketupat 2026,” Laode said.