Transportation Ministry Idul Fitri transportation coordinator Elly Sinaga said the number of people flying over the holiday period had increased from last year.

“There has been an average increase of 15 percent in passenger numbers compared to last year,” she said Wednesday.

More than 54,000 people arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday. On Wednesday, 15,399 people had arrived at the airport as of 11 a.m.

The number of train passengers arriving in the city reached 43,976 on Tuesday, and 34,707 as of Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, 116,744 people disembarked at the city’s eight main bus terminals, including Pulogadung terminal in East Jakarta, Kalideres terminal in West Jakarta and Lebak Bulus terminal in South Jakarta.

“We had predicted a significant number of arrivals for [Wednesday] morning and [Thursday], but it turns out that there was heavy congestion on Java’s northern coast road,” head of Lebak Bulus bus terminal Ferdinand Karel Wowor told The Jakarta Post.

He said it was likely the influx of holidaymakers would reach a peak on Friday or Saturday morning.

More than 3,100 people had arrived in Lebak Bulus terminal by Wednesday afternoon. Ferdinand said the figure for the whole day would likely be similar to that on Tuesday, which was 6,427 people.

Kampung Rambutan terminal head Silvana Siregar said the number of arrivals at the station was expected to peak Friday.

Last year, the number peaked five days after Idul Fitri, when 790 buses carrying 43,480 people arrived in one day.

More than 1.5 million vehicles entered the Greater Jakarta area from Sept. 3 to 14, according to the Transportation Ministry.

Traffic in the city was becoming more congested Wednesday, but remained a far cry from the jams seen on normal days despite a heavy downpour in the afternoon.

Several key commercial areas were still quiet compared to normal days, although activities in government offices and banks had returned to normal.

“Many vendors and their shopping attendants are still in their hometowns,” Agus, a 32-year-old vendor who sells shoes and bags on Jl. Melawai at the Blok M market, said.

“They will come back to Jakarta this weekend, so business will get back to normal possibly on Saturday.”

He said many of his customers had not returned from visiting their hometowns. Few shops were open in the market, and those that were attracted few customers.

The city administration has estimated Jakarta will receive 60,000 newcomers following the Idul Fitri holiday. Last year the number was 69,554.

The city administration plans to conduct an identity card checks in five municipalities seven days after the conclusion of the Idul Fitri holiday. (ipa)

Popular

Hundreds of kitchens halt services due to 'pause' in free meals funds

Number of forcibly displaced people dips to 118 million: UN

Failed system, fake research