Transport Minister Deploys Four Ports to Prevent Congestion in Banten During Lebaran Exodus

Jakarta, VIVA – Minister of Transport Dudy Purwagandhi has confirmed that his ministry will optimise four ports in Banten to distribute the flow of ferry crossings to Sumatra and prevent a build-up of traffic at Merak, Banten.

According to the minister, Banten is a critical bottleneck as all vehicles travelling from Greater Jakarta towards Sumatra converge in the region.

“If there are 1,000 vehicles from Greater Jakarta heading west towards Sumatra, all 1,000 will end up at Merak, Banten. It is our task to disperse that flow,” said Dudy following a coordination meeting on the 2026 Lebaran Exodus Transport Plan in Serang, Banten, on Monday, 16 February 2026.

The four ports have been assigned different roles: Merak Port will handle small cars and buses; Ciwandan Port will serve motorcycles and small goods trucks; BBJ Bojonegara Port will accommodate large trucks; and Krakatau Bandar Samudera (KBS) will serve as an alternative route to Panjang, Lampung.

“This is our anticipatory measure to distribute the traffic flow. Under normal conditions, everything goes through Merak, but for Lebaran we will optimise all four ports,” he said.

Dudy stressed that cross-regional coordination is being undertaken as traffic management involves both the Banten provincial authorities and the Jakarta Metropolitan Police. In addition, the government is preparing an additional 10 to 12 ferry vessels to serve the 2026 Lebaran exodus traffic in Banten, aimed at ensuring the smooth distribution of vehicles from the alternative ports.

Dudy also noted that an evaluation of the 2025 Lebaran period indicated the need for additional vessels at BBJ and Ciwandan.

“We will provide a minimum of 10 to 12 vessels so that the flow of vehicles runs smoothly and long queues do not form,” he said.

Meanwhile, Banten Governor Andra Soni stated that the coordination meeting marked the first step in cross-agency consolidation.

“Several matters were discussed and we will continue to coordinate so that the 2026 Lebaran Exodus Transport operations can proceed smoothly,” he said.