“Welcome Back Traffic Jams”: Portrait of Jakarta Returning to “Factory Settings” After Eid Holiday

JAKARTA. Jakarta returned to being filled with residents’ activities on the first working day after the Eid holiday 2026, Monday (30/3/2026). On several protocol roads to the KRL, vehicle density and residents’ movements increased in line with the return of workers and students to their normal activities. This phenomenon shows Jakarta’s “factory settings” running again after being quiet during the long Eid 2026 holiday. Pedestrian activities also increased again, especially around the sidewalks near Sudirman Station as well as access to pedestrian overpasses (JPO) and public transport stops. The presence of police officers at several points also helped maintain smooth traffic flow. However, density began to appear around the Bendungan Hilir TransJakarta Stop and the Kebon Sirih TransJakarta Stop. Several residents admitted to choosing to leave earlier to anticipate the expected increase in congestion with the return of school and office activities. Vehicle queues even snaked up to the Rasuna Said Underpass before later dispersing at the traffic split point towards Tebet and Mampang. Congestion was also seen around the Jembatan Gantung Stop to the Jelambar Stop, as well as the area heading to Grogol Petamburan. Several vehicles even utilised the TransJakarta lane, which also slowed down the buses in that corridor.