JakartaPost/Antara-Mar 16
President Prabowo Subianto has urged ministries, security forces and state agencies to work to ensure smooth and safe homebound travel during the mudik (exodus) ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday, as millions of Indonesians are returning to their hometowns. Speaking at a plenary cabinet meeting at the State Palace on Friday, the President stressed the importance of coordinated preparations from the government to ensure public services run smoothly during the holiday, which is expected to fall on Friday or Saturday depending on the moon. “We must ensure this year’s mudik runs well, safely and comfortably, and that all aspects are prepared carefully,” Prabowo told his cabinet. He instructed the Transportation Ministry to ensure transportation fare discounts on various modes of transport from flights to toll roads are implemented effectively to ease travel costs for the public. To ensure trips go smoothly, the President highlighted the importance of improving services at rest areas, ports, airports and train stations to prevent uncontrolled queues during the peak travel period. He also urged authorities to ensure stable supplies of fuel, electricity and internet connection throughout the holiday. The latest survey by the Transportation Ministry projected around 143.9 million people will travel during the Idul Fitri holiday, a slight decline from last year’s 154.6 million travelers. Nearly 460,000 vehicles have left the Greater Jakarta area between Wednesday and Friday, around 5 percent higher than the normal traffic volume, according to data from state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga. Around 201,000 vehicles went eastward toward Bandung, West Java, and other provinces on Java Island. Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi told the cabinet meeting various authorities and firms had prepared 31,000 buses, 3,687 trains as well as hundreds of ships, ferries and airplanes for the Idul Fitri holidays. The government also provided free mudik programs to carry 113,000 passengers. The President also ordered the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police to deploy their personnel to support efforts to manage the mudik, including by maintaining security along major travel routes. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2026/03/16/prabowo-pushes-smooth-idul-fitri-mudik-stable-food-supply.html?utm_source=(direct)&utm_medium=home_indonesia
