Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the importance of maximum preparation in welcoming the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year (Nataru) holidays.
These instructions are conveyed to all relevant ministries and institutions to ensure optimal coordination.
“I am sure we are able to carry out all the preparations as well as possible. We assure the public that they can face the new year safely, orderly, and smoothly. This is also a momentum to improve our economy,” said the President.
As a follow-up, the Ministry of Public Works (PU) has prepared strategic steps to ensure smooth traffic during the holiday period.
Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, revealed that a number of toll roads will be opened temporarily functionally.
“We will open a 120.4 km toll road, with details of 90.42 km in Sumatra and 29.98 km in Java,” he said.
The functional toll road sections in Sumatra include the Sigli-Banda Aceh Toll Road Section 1 (Padang Tiji–Seulimeum), the Binjai–Langsa Toll Road Section 3 (Tanjung Pura–Pangkalan Brandan), the Pekanbaru–Padang Toll Road, Padang–Sicincin Section, and the Kuala Tanjung–Tebing Tinggi Parapat Toll Road, Kuala Tanjung–IC Indrapura Section.
In Java, functional toll roads include the Jakarta–Cikampek II South Toll Road, Kutanegara–Sadang Section, the Solo–Yogyakarta Toll Road, Klaten–Prambanan Segment, and the Probolinggo–Banyuwangi Phase I (Probolinggo–Besuki) Toll Road.
In addition, all road preservation work will be temporarily suspended from December 15, 2024 to January 5, 2025.
The Ministry of Public Works also ensures that the condition of toll roads and national roads is stable and provides 124 rest areas along all toll roads.
To anticipate disasters, 393 emergency response posts have been prepared, complete with heavy equipment and materials in disaster-prone locations such as floods and landslides.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) also ensures the readiness of transportation infrastructure.
Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, conveyed mitigation steps, including preparing parking pockets at ports, emergency response navigation vessels, and traffic arrangements at airports.
“We also hold a free homecoming program to reduce road congestion, with a total capacity of 38,772 passengers and 2,320 motorbikes,” he explained.
In addition to land, sea, air and rail transportation, the Ministry of Transportation also invites cross-sector synergy, including with local governments and related agencies, to make Nataru transportation a success.
“Policy synchronization and socialization through the media are needed so that the public is well informed,” added the Minister of Transportation.
With cross-ministerial collaboration and support from all parties, the government is optimistic that the year-end holiday period can run smoothly, safely, and provide economic benefits to the community.
