Transport Ministry Prepares Strategy to Prevent Vehicle Congestion at Ports During 2026 Eid Exodus
Jakarta — As a measure to anticipate heavy vehicle traffic and the arrival of travellers without tickets, the Transport Ministry is implementing a delaying system and establishing several buffer zones outside ports during the 2026 Eid homecoming and return traffic period.
The Director General of Land Transport, Aan Suhanan, stated that the delaying system will be implemented at several points on both toll roads and arterial roads leading to ferry terminals.
“We have prepared a delaying system strategy and deployed buffer zones at several points to regulate queues of vehicles heading to ports to prevent congestion at the main access,” Aan said in an official statement on Monday (2 March 2026).
The regulation concerns traffic management on roads and ferries during the homecoming and return traffic periods for the 2026 Eid transport services (1447 Hijriah), signed by the Director General of Land Transport and Director General of Sea Transport of the Transport Ministry, the Head of Police Traffic Control, and the Director General of Roads of the Public Works Ministry.
Aan explained that the delaying system and buffer zones are directed towards Merak Port and Ketapang Port, as well as towards Ketapang Port and Gilimanuk.
More specifically, the delaying system towards Merak and Ciwandan is implemented at rest areas KM 43A and KM 68A on the Tangerang-Merak toll road, then at PT Munic Line land on Cikuasa Atas road and Indah Kiat Port parking area.
Aan stated that the travel delay arrangements and buffer zones are also implemented towards Bakauheni Port and Bandar Bakau Jaya (BBJ) Muara Pilu at rest area KM 172B on the Terbanggi Besar - Pematang Panggang - Kayu Agung toll road, 87B, 49B, and 20B on the Bakauheni - Terbanggi Besar toll road.
On non-toll (arterial) roads, they are implemented at Gayam Agribusiness Terminal, Gunung Jati Restaurant, Tiga Saudara Restaurant, Old Office of Agricultural Quarantine Agency, PT SMA special terminal port, and in front of the PT BBJ Muara Pilu gate.
“The delaying system towards Bakauheni and BBJ Muara Pilu is distributed across 10 buffer zone points with total parking capacity reaching 1,430 small vehicles. Implementation starts from 13–29 March 2026,” Aan explained.
Meanwhile, to prevent long queues in the area around the ports, ticket sales restrictions will be implemented with a forbidden radius: at Merak Port 4.71 kilometres from the centre of the outermost port (example reference point: Pesona Merak Hotel). Then, at Bakauheni Port 4.24 kilometres from the centre of the outermost port (example reference: Agricultural Quarantine Agency).
Additionally, buffer zones towards Ketapang Port from the Situbondo direction are set up at the Grand Watudodol rest area.
Not only that, the destination Ketapang from the Jember direction is also prepared, namely at the Bulusan Wharf parking pocket.
“We also prepare the delaying system towards Gilimanuk, and as a buffer zone it is implemented at Gilimanuk Cargo Terminal. However, specifically for motorcycles, the buffer zone is implemented at Gilimanuk Bus Terminal,” Aan explained.
The Transport Ministry together with stakeholders also arranged the delaying system and buffer zones for restricting cargo transport operations towards Ketapang Port from the Situbondo direction at PT Pusri Warehouse Field in the Tanjung Wangi Port area and Sritanjung Terminal.