Transport Minister Urges Halt to Coin Sweeping on North Coast Highway During 2026 Mudik Season; West Java Governor Pledges Compensation

The Minister of Transport (Menhub) Dudy Purwagandhi has appealed to residents to suspend the customary practice of sweeping for coins on the Sewo Bridge along the North Coast Highway (Pantura) in Indramayu, West Java, during the 2026 Lebaran mudik travel period.

The minister stated that during the 2026 mudik season, there will be significant vehicular traffic through the area. The coin-sweeping tradition, he warned, poses a hazard to vehicle users and local residents.

“We hope that this activity will not continue,” the Transport Minister said in Cirebon on Saturday, 14 March.

Sweeping for coins on the Pantura roadway, the minister continued, can disrupt traffic flow and cause accidents. He urged local authorities to take preventative measures to ensure the coin-sweeping tradition does not take place during the mudik season, particularly when vehicle volumes surge.

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi (KDM) responded by acknowledging that the tradition of searching for coins on the Sewo Bridge area along the Pantura has been practised for decades. According to him, this tradition has become a habit for many residents, especially during the 2026 Lebaran mudik period.

KDM pledged to find a solution so that the activity would not disrupt the mudik traffic. One proposal is to provide compensation to residents during the temporary suspension of coin sweeping.

“We will provide compensation. During this mudik season, they will not engage in the activity,” KDM said.