Transport and Religious Affairs Ministers Join Forces to Turn Mosques into Rest Areas for Eid Travellers

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi held an audience with Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar on Monday (23/2/2026) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs headquarters in Jakarta to strengthen coordination for the 2026 Eid al-Fitr transport operations. Among the key measures being prepared is the utilisation of houses of worship for homebound travellers.

Dudy conveyed a request for support from the Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding plans to use mosques along mudik (homecoming) routes as rest areas for travellers, particularly those using private vehicles and motorcycles.

“By utilising mosques along the mudik routes, we hope the public can rest comfortably during their journeys. We will also prepare supporting facilities so that travellers can rest safely,” Dudy said in a written statement in Jakarta on Tuesday (24/2/2026).

Dudy expressed hope that the mosques could provide basic amenities such as parking areas, toilets, clean water, lighting, and rest spaces for the public. In addition to utilising houses of worship, the Ministry of Transport is also preparing a number of other facilities as rest points for travellers, including bus terminals and weigh stations along mudik routes.

Dudy said the synergy between the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Religious Affairs was important given that the Eid al-Fitr period is not only about large-scale public mobility but also carries strong spiritual and social dimensions.

“This is an excellent synergy between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Transport, given that the Eid al-Fitr period is not only about massive mobility but also holds deep spiritual and social meaning for our society,” the Transport Minister said.

Dudy added that based on a survey of potential public movement during the 2026 Eid period, an estimated 143 million people are expected to travel during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The figure is slightly lower than last year’s survey result of 146 million people. However, the government is still anticipating the possibility of a surge in public mobility.

The majority of people travelling during the Eid period are expected to be returning to their hometowns to celebrate with family, accounting for approximately 66 per cent of total survey respondents.

“Last year, actual public movement reached around 154 million people. Therefore, we continue to anticipate the possibility of increased travel ahead of the holiday,” Dudy said.