Jakarta (ANTARA) - The operation of three ports for Eid al-Fitr travelers this year has helped ease the density of homecoming traffic at the Java-Sumatra crossing routes, National Police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has said.
"Thank God, according to the reports of the (police) personnel, this year, there were no (vehicle) queues (in areas where) traffic jams used to occur frequently (in previous years),” he informed after visiting Bakauheni Port, Lampung province, on Thursday, according to a statement.
“It means that everything can be accommodated by (operating) three ports," he added. As homecoming travelers can cross through Merak, Ciwandan, and Bandar Bakau Jaya ports, the traffic density has reduced, he informed.
"We see that there is no accumulation (of passengers) by implementing this (crossing) management. Certainly, this is an improvement according to the evaluation that has been carried out," the national police chief said.
Based on the reports, there was an increase in crossing activities to Sumatra from Wednesday (April 19, 2023) evening until Thursday morning, he added. "According to the results of the analysis, it is likely that today (on Thursday afternoon or evening) will be another peak of crossing activities since there will be some (more passengers) who cross (on Thursday),” he said.
Prabowo informed that similar traffic management will also be applied during the return flow, which is expected to occur in two phases, namely, from April 25 to 26 as well as from April 29 to May 1.
Hence, he instructed officers at ports to prepare traffic arrangements to prevent vehicle accumulation. "The personnel at Bakauheni and Panjang (ports) will start accommodating the returning traffic on the D+3 (of Eid al-Fitr). Thus, of course, (it is expected that) everything can be served well," he said.
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Furthermore, regarding the safety of travelers, the national police chief said that until now, his party has not received reports of any travelers who arrived at Bakauheni Port and Panjang Port falling victim to criminal acts.
The police are ensuring the security of all regions along the Eid al-Fitr exodus routes to prevent any crime against travelers, he added. "Hopefully, this (securing the safety of the routes) can be carried out well during the homecoming period as well as during the return flow and everything can be properly maintained, thus there are no criminal acts," he added.
The Religious Affairs Ministry has announced that the Islamic holy day would be observed on April 22 this year.
