By: Aristika Utami)*
The 2024/2025 Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holidays are one of the moments that people are waiting for to gather with their families. However, the high mobility of the community has created the potential for significant traffic congestion. To anticipate this, the Indonesian government through the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has prepared various strategic steps to ensure smooth transportation in all modes of travel.
The government has prepared 32,130 buses with a capacity of 1.2 million passengers and operates 113 type A terminals. The free homecoming program is also being held again with a total capacity of 38,772 passengers and 2,320 motorbikes. This program covers 11 destination routes from Jakarta to several major cities such as Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and Semarang.
In this regard, Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi said that in anticipation of congestion, congestion at transportation hubs, safety issues, and anticipation of weather changes during the 2024/2025 Nataru transportation period, the Ministry of Transportation is taking strategic policy steps and disaster mitigation plans for land, sea and air transportation.
The Ministry of Transportation also held a free homecoming program to reduce the potential for traffic accidents, especially for motorcycles and reduce traffic congestion on the road. Therefore, traffic officers from the Ministry of Transportation, the Police, and the Regional Transportation Agency will be deployed to regulate the flow of vehicles at points prone to congestion.
The success of traffic flow management during Christmas and New Year cannot be separated from cross-agency cooperation. The Ministry of Transportation coordinates policies with the Ministry of Public Works, BMKG, Basarnas, the Police, and local governments to ensure that all parties work according to plan. Policy socialization is also carried out through the mass media to ensure that the public gets clear and accurate information.
Officers from the Transportation Agency and the National Police will also be deployed to regulate traffic flow at points prone to congestion. The government will also conduct periodic inspections or ramp checks to ensure that modes of transportation are in operational condition. This supervision includes buses, trains, planes, and ships to minimize the potential for accidents.
The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps, and the Ministry of Public Works (PU) have issued a Joint Decree (SKB) concerning the Regulation of Road Traffic and Crossings during the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year Transportation Period. The SKB contains traffic regulations on a number of important routes during the upcoming Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holidays.
Acting Director General of Land Transportation, Ahmad Yani, said that during the Christmas and New Year holidays, there will be traffic arrangements that include a one-way system and a tidal flow (contra flow) lane system, these arrangements are enforced to create smooth traffic flow. The hope is that all people who travel feel comfortable and safe by prioritizing safety.
The step also includes anticipation of Over Dimension Over Loading (ODOL) trucks or obese trucks. Jasa Marga has prepared a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure the safety of implementing contra flow to oneway.
The 2024-2025 Nataru Joint Decree also stipulates that construction project work around the road benefit space is temporarily stopped starting from December 18, 2024 at 00.00 local time until January 5, 2025 at 24.00 local time. This traffic regulation can be evaluated for its implementation time based on police considerations and if there is a change in traffic flow situationally.
The Ministry of Public Works is one of the vanguards in this preparation. The Ministry of Public Works also opened several temporary functional toll roads along 120.4 km in Java and Sumatra. New roads such as the Jakarta-Cikampek II South Toll Road and the Solo-Yogyakarta Toll Road will be a breath of fresh air for road users, reducing congestion that is often a problem during long holidays.
Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti said that her party will continue to ensure that all roads are in good condition, without holes, and equipped with complementary buildings and will continue to coordinate with various parties to ensure smooth travel for the public.
With comprehensive anticipatory steps, the government hopes that the public can enjoy a safe, comfortable, and smooth journey during the 2024/2025 Christmas and New Year holidays. Awareness and cooperation from all parties, including transportation users, are expected to support this effort. So that the public can plan their trips with more confidence, while enjoying precious moments of togetherness with their families.
Through intensive coordination, anticipation of bad weather, and provision of optimal transportation services, the government is optimistic that it can reduce traffic congestion and the risk of traffic accidents during this year-end holiday season.
The government also appealed to the public to plan their trips well, utilize public transportation services, and comply with safety protocols during the trip. Coordination between agencies continues to be strengthened to ensure a quick response to any emergency situations that may occur. With good synergy, it is hoped that the 2024 Christmas and New Year holidays can be safe, comfortable, and orderly for the entire community.
With thorough preparation, the government is optimistic that it can control the potential for traffic congestion during the 2024 Christmas and New Year holidays. Public awareness in complying with traffic regulations and utilizing the transportation facilities that have been provided are important factors in ensuring smooth travel during this holiday season.
)* The author is a contributor to Pertiwi Institute