President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo led a limited Cabinet meeting on Idul Fitri preparations at his office on Friday, during which he instructed his ministers to prepare the necessary infrastructure to facilitate smooth mudik travel, including ensuring adequate fuel stock along vital routes.

The President said that the Trans-Java toll road, which connects Merak in Banten to Probolinggo in East Java, as well as the operational sections of the Trans-Sumatra toll road would help ease traffic during the annual exodus.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said last week that he expected the exodus to start on Thursday, May 30 – which coincides with the public holiday marking the Ascension Day of Jesus Christ – and that it would peak the following day.

“We expect mudik travel to peak on May 31, so we will manage the [traffic] from May 30 to June 5,”  Budi said. “We advise the public to depart to their hometowns on May 30, or even on the evening of May 29, to avoid heavy traffic.”

The Transportation Ministry estimates that 22.83 million people will head to their hometowns by air, sea, road and train, during the seven days prior to and after Idul Fitri, which falls on June 5 and 6. The figure is a 4.14 percent increase from last year’s figure.

Meanwhile, the ministry estimates that 10.61 million private vehicles will be used to travel across the country during the annual exodus, up 13.09 percent. The ministry expects return travel to peak on June 9.

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