Government’s Preventive Steps Successfully Anticipate Surge in Movement During New Year Momentum
By: Clara Diah Wulandari )*
The government has successfully anticipated a spike in public mobility during the entire series of New Year 2025 celebrations with a number of carefully designed preventive measures.
From strengthening transportation infrastructure to preparing security personnel, these efforts have proven effective in managing the flow of people’s movement. This strategy, which is implemented in various modes of transportation such as toll roads, ports, and trains, has succeeded in ensuring smooth and safe travel during the 2025 New Year period.
Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi revealed that the management of the flow of crossings on the Merak-Bakauheni route is one of the main focuses. Facing the predicted surge in passengers and vehicles, his party is implementing an operational pattern that is adjusted to the density conditions.
Under normal conditions, 30 ships will operate, but when the density increases, the number of ships will be increased to 33 units. Vehicle diversion measures are also implemented by directing large trucks to alternative ports to prevent congestion on the main route.
The Minister of Transportation also emphasized the importance of careful travel planning, such as purchasing tickets online and avoiding arriving at the port without a ticket, to reduce the potential for congestion.
In addition to strengthening the fleet, readiness to anticipate extreme weather is also a serious concern. In major ports, including Merak and Bojonegara, a delay system has been implemented to deal with potential disruptions caused by bad weather conditions.
The government, through the Ministry of Transportation, also appealed to the public to comply with applicable regulations and follow official information regarding shipping schedules. With good coordination between the port, the Ministry of Transportation, and ASDP, these steps have succeeded in reducing the negative impact of the surge in movement.
In East Java, the Regional Police (Polda Jatim) has put more than 18,000 personnel on alert for Operation Lilin Semeru 2024. This figure reflects the authorities’ readiness to manage the movement of 110 million people predicted to occur during the New Year celebration period.
Kombespol Komarudin, Director of Traffic for the East Java Regional Police, explained that this increase in movement would be recorded not only between provinces, but also within provinces, with East Java being the region with the highest movement figures.
As part of preventive efforts, the East Java Regional Police have prepared various strategies to anticipate accidents and congestion. One of them is by monitoring passing vehicles, especially large vehicles such as buses and trucks, and implementing operational restrictions for certain vehicles on vulnerable routes.
In addition, the East Java Regional Police have also mapped disaster-prone areas, traffic jams, and accidents to ensure smooth homecoming and return flows during the holiday period.
These steps not only include direct supervision in the field, but also coordination with the Public Works Department and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), to ensure that everything can be handled quickly and effectively. The presence of Pam Posts spread across various vulnerable points also provides a sense of security for people who are traveling, as well as speeding up the handling process if an incident occurs.
Not only in the land transportation sector, anticipation of the surge in passengers is also carried out optimally by public transportation managers. In South Sumatra, the South Sumatra Light Rail Management Center (BPKARSS) formed a Nataru Post to anticipate the surge in passengers on the South Sumatra LRT.
Head of BPKARSS Rode Paulus stated that strict supervision and increasing the frequency of trips are the main steps in maintaining smooth operations. This post functions as a coordination center involving various related parties, including operational officers, security, and customer service, to ensure that LRT services run smoothly.
In response to increasing demand, BPKARSS increased the number of LRT trips from 94 to 102 trips during the weekend, and especially on New Year’s Eve, the service will operate until the early hours of the morning.
This step is not only to accommodate the surge in passengers, but also to improve the comfort and safety of the trip. In addition, BPKARSS also ensures that each LRT station is equipped with strict supervision, by increasing the number of officers and conducting routine checks on the LRT fleet to ensure that operations remain prime.
To make it easier for the public, BPKARSS also provides the latest information regarding travel schedules through mobile applications and social media channels. This effort makes it easier for passengers to plan their trips and get the information they need. With the strengthening of supervision and an efficient information system, BPKARSS has succeeded in maintaining passenger comfort and safety during the New Year celebration period.
The preventive measures implemented in various transportation sectors demonstrate the government’s success in managing public mobility. The synergy between ministries, related agencies, and the private sector in ensuring smooth and safe transportation has succeeded in creating a safer and more comfortable travel experience.
The public is also urged to comply with the established rules, such as planning trips well, complying with safety protocols, and utilizing available official information.
The success of managing the surge in public movement during the entire series of New Year celebrations is not only about the readiness of facilities and fleets, but also about the preparedness and synergy between the various parties involved.
With the steps that have been taken, the government has proven its commitment to providing safe, smooth and comfortable transportation services for people celebrating the New Year holidays.
)* The author is a contributor to the Nusantara Reading Room
