By: Gavin Asadit )*
The government under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto has shown a high commitment to ensuring and optimizing the readiness of infrastructure and transportation to support the smoothness of people’s travel ahead of the New Year. Strategic steps continue to be taken to overcome potential obstacles that often occur during the 2025 New Year holiday period, such as congestion, weather disruptions, and a spike in the number of public transportation users.
President Prabowo’s commitment to optimizing infrastructure and transportation in welcoming the Nataru holiday was emphasized by the Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, who said that the transportation infrastructure was ready to face the 2025 New Year holiday transportation. Furthermore, he stated that the Ministry of Transportation had also taken strategic policy steps and disaster mitigation plans as an effort to anticipate congestion and congestion at transportation hubs.
Furthermore, the Minister of Transportation asked for support and synergy from various ministries and institutions to ensure that the Nataru holiday runs smoothly so that the public can feel comfortable during the New Year holiday.
Furthermore, in the public transportation sector, the government prioritizes increasing the capacity and quality of services at bus terminals, train stations, airports, and ports. President Prabowo asked the Ministry of Transportation to directly monitor the readiness of these facilities. The Minister of Transportation, in his statement, said that the operational schedule of mass transportation had been increased to accommodate the surge in passengers.
Service improvements are also supported by digitalization steps, such as the implementation of a more efficient online ticket booking system. In addition, to improve comfort, a number of new trains and buses have been operated. At the airport, improving facilities and adding flight schedules to popular destinations are the main focus. Meanwhile, to support the smoothness and enthusiasm of the public who will travel during the Nataru holidays, the Ministry of Transportation has also prepared facilities and infrastructure including 32,130 buses with a capacity of 1.2 million passengers.
Furthermore, ahead of the New Year, the Special Staff of the Minister of SOEs, Arya Sinulingga, said that President Prabowo had given directions so that this year’s Nataru moment can run comfortably and smoothly, President Prabowo also asked for a guarantee of security of energy and electricity supply, which is a vital element for the smooth running of the long holiday.
In ensuring the readiness of reliable electricity services, PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said that PLN has made preventive preparations by ensuring that the entire electricity system is in reliable condition since long ago. He also said that PLN is ready to carry out the direction of President Prabowo Subianto so that Christmas and New Year can run smoothly. In addition, PLN has also formed a special team or special force for Nataru alert by deploying 81,591 personnel on standby at 1,853 posts throughout Indonesia.
Furthermore, PLN as part of the State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) in the energy sector is ready to support the government’s direction to provide comfort to the community during the New Year celebrations. Furthermore, to address the increasing increase in electric vehicles, PLN has also prepared Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) along the Toll road.
Meanwhile, the New Year holiday which coincides with the rainy season which is often accompanied by extreme weather can certainly potentially cause natural disasters such as floods and landslides. In response to this, President Prabowo instructed the Ministry of Public Works to coordinate with relevant stakeholders to map vulnerable areas and prepare mitigation steps.
In response to direct instructions from President Prabowo, Deputy Minister of Public Works, Diana Kusumawati coordinated with the Head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati to discuss mitigation strategies for hydrometeorological disasters and the peak of the rainy season that occurs during the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holiday period.
The success of managing the 2024 Christmas and New Year holidays is highly dependent on collaboration between agencies. President Prabowo encouraged all parties, from the central government, local governments, to the private sector, to work together. This is reflected in the involvement of tourist attraction managers, hotels, and restaurants in providing additional services for tourists.
One concrete step that also needs to be taken is coordination between the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and local governments to ensure accessibility and comfort of tourist destinations. Thus, people can enjoy their holidays without significant obstacles.
President Prabowo also invited the public to play an active role in supporting the smooth running of the New Year holidays. Awareness to obey traffic rules, maintain order, and plan trips well is something that is highly emphasized. With various strategic steps that have been taken, the government is optimistic that the 2024 New Year holidays will run smoothly. President Prabowo’s commitment to optimizing infrastructure and transportation reflects his vision to provide the best service to the community.
Through synergy between agencies, improved facilities, and readiness to face all challenges, it is hoped that this New Year’s holiday will not only be a moment of celebration, but also strengthen a sense of togetherness and optimism in entering the new year 2025. The various strategic steps that have been taken by the government certainly deserve appreciation, and the community also has an important role in realizing the New Year’s holiday can run safely and smoothly.
)* The author is an observer of social and community issues