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Govt to strictly monitor Cipali toll road capacity
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A policeman directs traffic flow at the busy gate of Cipali toll road, in Cirebon, West Java, on June 22. (Antara/Dedhez Anggara)
T
he government has called on travelers not to use the busy Cikopo-Palimanan (Cipali) toll road in West Java as their sole route to return home to prevent a prolonged gridlock during this year’s Idul Fitri exodus.
“This year, the Cipali toll road will be strictly monitored by the police. If there is gridlock that stretches more than 2 kilometers, we will close the access to enter the toll road,” Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said on Thursday.
The Cipali toll road, officially opened in June 2015, is the longest toll road in Indonesia that spans more than 116 km.
Budi pointed out alternative routes that could be used by travelers, including the old Pantura highway.
“Last night, when we checked the situation at exodus routes by helicopter, we saw that Pantura highway was so quiet. So, don’t just rely on Cipali toll road,” Budi added.
According to private toll road operator Lintas Marga Sedaya, traffic passing through the Palimanan gate at Cipali toll road reached 83,465 vehicles on Friday at 6 a.m., up 2.2 percent compared to the previous day.
“The number of vehicles coming and going through Palimanan gate is the highest since Thursday last week and three times normal traffic at 26,000 to 30,000 vehicles,” LMS vice president director Firdaus Azis said, adding that the company is operating 25 toll booths in Palimanan gate to ease traffic. (ags).
