The traffic plan, which will be implemented from kilometer 29 in Bekasi, West Java, to km 262 in West Brebes, Central Java, would be applied from May 30 to June 2, or three days before the Islamic holiday.  

“I will discuss with National Police chief [Gen. Tito Karnavian). If [he] agrees, we will issue the decree and announce it to the public. So the regencies will be ready for the influx of vehicles,” said Budi after a coordination meeting on transportation in Bandung, West Java, on Tuesday.

The Idul Fitri exodus is an annual problem, especially in Java, when millions of people travel from their residences in the western part of the island to their hometowns in the east and outside Java. Road traffic will be at its busiest as more than half of holidaymakers still opt to travel by private vehicle with families, according to the ministry.

Land Transportation Director General Budi Setiyadi said the implementation of the one-way traffic plan would occur throughout the day intermittently. “Vehicles from Semarang will exit in West Brebes. Buses and public transportation will be on Lane A [the lanes from Jakarta to the East], while Lane B will be for private vehicles,” he said.

Setiyadi said the new arrangement would double space for the traffic surge to the east approaching Idul Fitri, and travelers could benefit from more rest areas.

Earlier, the ministry also studied a plan to implement an odd-even traffic policy for the exodus, but dropped this because of the complications of the plan.

“We were worried that the traffic would be stuck, especially those in the middle of the trans-Java route,” said Setiyadi.

He added that the one-way traffic plan was recommended by the police’s Traffic Corps.

Budi said the same plan would be implemented for the return flow of traffic from June 8 to 10. The one-way route will begin at km 189 in Cirebon, West Java, to km 29. Those traveling from Jakarta to the east would exit in West Cikarang.

A survey of the ministry’s research and development board estimated that some 18.2 million people will travel from Banten, Greater Jakarta and Greater Bandung for the exodus this year.

“Their main destination is Central Java, at about 37 percent, West Java at 25 percent and East Java at 11 percent,” said Setiyadi, adding that those headed to West Java usually aimed for Bandung, Garut and Tasikmalaya.  

“It is estimated that 399,000 cars will use the trans-Java while about 273,000 will take the Pantura [the Java northern coast route],” said Setiyadi.

For their own safety, Minister Budi called on travelers not to ride motorcycles. He suggested they travel on free buses provided by his ministry and have their motorcycles transported on board trains or ships instead. He also suggested regional heads and police chiefs make necessary preparations.

Separately, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said that caution was needed in some spots that could trigger traffic congestion. These included overflowing markets, railway crossings and toll road exits. “In the past what was traumatizing was the ‘Brexit’ [Brebes Exit] incident. That is no longer the case now,” he said.

In 2016, a massive traffic jam occurred at the East Brebes exit gate in Central Java during that year’s Idul Fitri mass exodus, with thousands of vehicles being caught for an average of 12 hours at the gate.

Ganjar also called on city and regency administration heads to mark areas prone to traffic congestion such as at the toll road exits in Pejagan, Pemalang, Banyumanik, Salatiga, Tingkir, Boyolali, and Kartasura. “We have to provide alternative routes there,” he said.

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