Transport Minister to Evaluate Restrictions on Three-Axle Trucks During Eid Period

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the government will evaluate the operational restrictions on three-axle vehicles after violations were still found during the Eid exodus and return flow in 2026. He said that traffic congestion occurring at several points, including at Gilimanuk Port in Bali, was triggered by the continued operation of logistics vehicles that should have been restricted. “There was indeed congestion in Gilimanuk, due to the fact that there are still many three-axle vehicles operating,” Dudy said after inspecting the return flow at the Jasa Marga Toll Road Command Centre (JMTC) in Bekasi on Wednesday. He mentioned that the congestion could be resolved in less than 24 hours, but the incident will serve as material for evaluation to improve future policies. Dudy stated that the government will summon companies violating the three-axle vehicle restrictions and issue warnings to prevent similar incidents. “We will summon them and issue warnings to those companies,” he emphasised. He added that the government is also open to elevating the status of the vehicle restriction rules from a joint ministerial decree (SKB) to a stronger regulation. “We must discuss across sectors, then there needs to be discussions with the Ministry of Public Works (PU), as well as with the Police and other ministries, whether it is necessary to elevate its status from SKB or to a higher provision that provides greater punitive power,” Dudy said. The operational restrictions on three-axle and above vehicles are still in effect until 29 March 2026 to maintain the smooth and safe flow of the Eid exodus and return. The government urges logistics business actors to comply with these provisions to avoid adding to traffic congestion, especially on main routes and crossing areas. Vehicle queues to the port once reached tens of kilometres during the 2026 Eid exodus period, also triggered by a surge in public mobility and the temporary closure of crossings during Nyepi Day.