Transport Minister Says KM 57 Rest Area is Disruptive, Orders Closure if No Changes

Extreme traffic density on toll roads during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr homecoming has spotlighted the function of rest areas. One of the most criticised points is the rest area at KM 57, deemed a bottleneck.

The rest area, which should serve as a place for respite, has instead become a source of long traffic jams. This occurs when a surge in vehicles is not matched by adequate capacity.

The issue lies not only in capacity but also in road users’ behaviour, which tends to involve stopping for too long. The government is now considering firm measures if improvements are not promptly implemented by the operators.

“If no improvements are made, just close it. Because this will be very disruptive and turn into a bottleneck,” stated Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi on Thursday (9/4/2026).

A comprehensive evaluation will be conducted, covering entry access, internal traffic flow management, and parking capacity.

Furthermore, the opening and closing scheme for rest areas will be optimised based on real-time traffic conditions. Monitoring of vehicle volumes will also be tightened using traffic density indicators.

“What we want to improve is the entry access, the internal flow, and also the capacity that must be added.”

Education for the public is also a key element in addressing this problem. Many road users do not yet understand the impact of stopping too long on congestion. Behaviours such as parking on the road shoulder or stopping in the middle of contraflow traffic are seen as exacerbating the situation.

Going forward, the government will encourage the public to be more disciplined in planning journeys, including refuelling before entering the toll road.

“We will continue to educate the public not to linger at rest areas because the impact on traffic flow is very significant,” said Dudy.