East Java braces for Idul Fitri exodus

Repair work on major roads and bridges is underway across East Java as transportation agencies anticipate flocks of travelers to and from the province ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday.

The provincial transportation agency has ensured the repair works will be completed a week before the holiday, which is expected to fall on Sept. 21 and 22.

Agency head Binsar Siregar said repair work focused on the roads linking Pasuruan and Probolinggo, Lamongan and Babat, and some access roads in the provincial capital of Surabaya.

He predicted road traffic would increase by about 50 percent during the Idul Fitri holiday, while the number of vacationers using public transportation would rise by only about 5 percent.

"People seem to prefer using private vehicles rather than public transportation. The number of vacationers who travel by motorcycle has sharply increased recently, particularly because it saves money and is practical," Binsar said.

The agency's traffic department head, Supriadi, said public bus companies would deploy a fleet of about 4,500 buses to transport people to their hometowns. On normal days, only 60 percent of buses are operational.

The agency will tighten security along the busy routes by deploying 800 personnel, who will conduct routine patrols on the roads during the exodus.

In the meantime, the East Java Police have warned that the five routes of Situbondo, Ngawi, Babat, Batu, and Porong would be prone to traffic accidents, natural disasters and crimes.

"Porong is the most dangerous route *out of those five*. We will be concentrating our operations there during this year's Idul Fitri exodus," said East Java Police chief of traffic division Sr. Comr. Bambang Sukamto.

Others spots that police will be monitoring closely in the province include 21 busy markets that could potentially cause traffic congestions in surrounding areas.