T

he government announced its preparedness ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday, saying food prices would be stable over the next two weeks and that transportation services were more than sufficient for the 27 million Indonesians intending to return to their hometowns.

Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal told a press conference on Thursday that some 16.3 million people were expected to return to their hometowns for the Idul Fitri holiday using public transportation.

Those using private vehicles including motorcycles are predicted to amount to 11 million people, bringing the total number of travellers to just over 27 million.

The modes of transportation available, including buses, trains, vessels and airplanes, had a combined capacity of 36.4 million seats, which would be more than enough to carry all would-be seasonal travellers, Jusman said.

"We can say the available facilities will be enough to meet demand. Therefore we will focus on traffic regulations and management to ensure that this year's Idul Fitri exodus runs smoothly," he said after a plenary Cabinet meeting on the government's preparations for the Idul Fitri holidays and the exodus.

The meeting, also attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, was led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Office.

Also at the meeting, National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said police would dispatch officers to help make sure travellers arrived and returned safely.

The police will place CCTV cameras and officers in busy locations, and 1,500 officers will monitor railway networks throughout Java and parts of Sumatra. Railway tracks have often been stolen in Indonesia to be sold for scrap metal.

"We will also work to ensure security at recreational places and houses left by owners," Bambang said.

Speaking at the same press conference, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said food stocks would be sufficient until the Idul Fitri holiday, adding that the government had enough staple food stocks to last until the end of the year.

She also said food prices were basically stable, except for perishable products such as red chilies, beef and chicken - whose prices usually went up a few days before the beginning of Ramadan and before Idul Fitri.

"*Food* stocks are secure, and prices are stable. On average, compared to last month, during this fasting month only prices of red chilies and sugar are up by 18.7 percent and 16.7 percent," Mari said.

"The prices of other items such as eggs, red onions and rice have tended to decline."

Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor Darmin Nasution said that to meet the public's increasing demand for small denomination bills ahead of Idul Fitri, the central bank had prepared Rp 5 trillion (US$497 million) in Rp 10,000 and smaller denominations.

"We prepared the Rp 5 trillion early in this fasting month for a month of higher-than-normal demand. We anticipated we would need Rp 4.7 trillion," he said.