A joint ministerial meeting on Friday said the government had provided enough modes of public transportation, fuel and roads to facilitate the upcoming mudik (mass homecoming exodus) of an estimated 27.25 million Indonesians.
The government will ban heavy vehicles such as trucks from operating four days before and one day after the Idul Fitri holiday on Sept. 21 and 22.
Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said the government had secured up to 36.4 million seats on modes of public transportation for 16.25 million people traveling between the seven days before and after the holiday. The remaining 11 million will travel using private cars and motorcycles.
"Heavyweight vehicles like trucks will be forbidden to travel four days before and one day after the holiday to ease traffic on the roads," he added.
But exceptions will be granted to heavyweight vehicles carrying staple foodstuffs and bottled waters to ensure sufficient food and beverage supplies across the country, said Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu.
Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said his office would stop rebuilding roads seven days before the Idul Fitri holiday, while assuring the roadworks would be completed on time.
Evita H. Legowo, director general of oil and gas at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said there would be a temporary 50 fuel depots in Banten, Lampung, Central Java and East Java to cover fuel needs.
"Sixteen fuel stations will replace diesel by premium gasoline because most travelers use premium *gas*," she said.
She added that special-transit fuel stations had been set up for motorcyclists traveling along the northern and southern roads of Java.
"The government has asked *state-run oil and gas firm* PT Pertamina to stock fuel in several places," said Evita.
Police officers will be deployed to escort motorcyclists as they are prone to accidents, said Jusman.
"There will also be police officers in *bus and train* stations as well as airports and ports, equipped with weapons to provide security," he added.
The National Police will deploy 123,000 officers to protect travelers and secure the large cities left by the residents. They will guard housing complexes, shopping centers and recreational areas.
A total of 1,500 police officers will be deployed to secure railway networks in Java and Sumatra. Railways tracks are often stolen and sold as scrap metal.
The police will also install CCTV and place officers in busy locations to help control the traffic and maintain public security.
Jusman said the government believed this year's traffic during the Idul Fitri holiday would be better than last year's. Last year's mudik saw 1,320 traffic accidents, and 616 fatalities, a decline from the 1,875 accidents and 198 fatalities in 2007.
