Facing the Surge in Christmas and New Year Travel, Government Operates a National Integrated Command Post
By: Lalu Jefri Adiyatma )*
The government has ensured national preparedness in facing the surge in public mobility during the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) period by operating an integrated, cross-sector national command post. This measure is part of the state’s strategy to ensure that transportation management, communications, and public services run in a coordinated and responsive manner, prioritizing public safety and comfort amid increased movement of people and goods across Indonesia.
The Ministry of Transportation has officially activated the Central Command Post for Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 Transportation as the national control center. Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi explained that the establishment of the command post was based on a survey of potential public movement, which projects that more than 119 million people will travel during the year-end holiday period.
The Central Command Post for Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 Transportation is designed as an instrument for regulating, controlling, and coordinating national transportation so that all policies and operational measures in the field can be implemented in an integrated, consistent, and timely manner.
The surge in mobility during the Nataru period is not only driven by Christmas celebrations and homecoming travel by Christian communities, but also by increased tourism activities, family gatherings, and holiday travel. These conditions naturally place pressure on all modes of transportation.
The government assesses that without strong coordination and an integrated monitoring system, safety risks and service disruptions could increase. Therefore, the presence of an integrated command post is considered crucial to ensuring operational readiness as well as rapid responses to dynamic field conditions.
In organizing Nataru transportation services, the Ministry of Transportation has set several key priorities, namely safety as the highest priority, strengthened synergy among ministries and institutions, attention to operational details, and preparedness to face uncertainties such as extreme weather and potential disasters.
Dudy Purwagandhi emphasized that transportation safety and smooth operations are not the result of coincidence, but rather the outcome of careful planning, consistent supervision, and disciplined coordination.
As part of strengthening coordination between the central and regional governments, the Minister of Transportation conducted direct inspections at various transportation hubs across multiple regions, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Nusa Tenggara.
Direct dialogue with regional leaders was carried out to ensure local readiness and to reinforce collaboration between the central and regional governments. The government views this step as important to ensure that national policies are effectively implemented on the ground.
The Nataru Central Transportation Command Post operates 24 hours a day throughout the year-end holiday period and involves various strategic institutions, including traffic police, Basarnas, BMKG, KNKT, BNPB, as well as state-owned enterprises and national transportation operators. This cross-sector involvement enables real-time monitoring, rapid decision-making, and integrated responses to emergencies and operational disruptions.
The readiness of the integrated command post is also strengthened from the communication and digital perspective. The Ministry of Communication and Digital has activated hundreds of telecommunications command posts across all provinces, involving all cellular operators.
Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid stated that these command posts have been put on alert to ensure network stability amid the surge in data traffic, which is expected to increase significantly during the Nataru period. The government views communication services as a basic necessity, considering that more than 200 million Indonesians are now connected to the internet.
To maintain service quality, network capacity has been expanded at hundreds of strategic points such as transportation hubs and tourist areas. In addition, the government has established task forces and joint command posts tasked with monitoring network quality, securing radio frequency spectrum, and supporting the dissemination of emergency information.
Early warning systems and emergency traffic information have also been integrated, including through short message services in accident-prone areas. The 112 Call Center service continues to be expanded as part of public protection efforts during the holiday period.
In the port sector, the readiness of the integrated command post is demonstrated through the operation of the Nataru Command Post at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya. As one of the main gateways for maritime connectivity to Eastern Indonesia, this port plays a strategic role in maintaining the smooth flow of passengers and logistics.
The command post at the Gapura Surya Nusantara Passenger Terminal serves as a center for coordination, monitoring, and integrated services involving the government, the Indonesian National Armed Forces and Police, state-owned enterprises, and port stakeholders.
The Head of the Shipping and Seafaring Division of the Tanjung Perak Main KSOP, Dr. Capt. Mustamin, M.Pd., M.Mar., stated that maritime safety is the primary principle in organizing sea transportation during the Nataru period.
All operating vessels have undergone seaworthiness inspections covering safety aspects, passenger capacity, and equipment completeness. Dozens of ships from various operators have been prepared to serve tens of thousands of passengers, with supervision carried out strictly and continuously.
Through the operation of integrated command posts across the transportation, communication, and port sectors, the government reaffirms the presence of the state in ensuring that the Christmas and New Year period proceeds safely, orderly, and under control. This collaborative, cross-sector approach reflects the government’s commitment not only to anticipating the surge in mobility, but also to protecting public safety and maintaining the quality of public services during this important year-end period.
*) Public Policy Observer
