A study by the Transportation Ministry predicts that some 146.48 million people will travel to their hometowns for Idul Fitri later this month, a 23 percent drop from last year’s prediction of 193.6 million people. After last year’s Idul Fitri, then-Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi announced that 242 million mudik travelers had been recorded.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said earlier this week that the ministry had begun mudik preparations to ensure travelers’ safety, including by setting up vehicle safety inspection posts along the country’s major routes and implementing counter-flow and one-way traffic policies.

According to this year’s study, peak mudik travel will occur on March 28, while the peak return flow will occur on April 6. As in previous years, privately owned cars are expected to be the most popular choice for travelers, followed by buses, trains and airplanes.

“We are committed to ensuring that transportation services throughout [the Idul Fitri holiday] will be safe, comfortable and controlled as we continue to synergize with various parties to optimize the readiness of transportation facilities and infrastructure,” Dudy said.

He did not explain why the number of travelers was expected to decline.