Beware, This Is A Vulnerable Area To Watch Out For Lebaran Travelers In South Sumatra

Homecoming vehicles began crossing Jalan Srijaya Negara Palembang, South Sumatra, D-2 Lebaran, Saturday (30/4/2022). (DOC. ANTARA)

PALEMBANG - The Provincial Government of South Sumatra has mapped areas prone to traffic jams and disasters that travelers from Lebaran 2023 must be aware of.

Head of the South Sumatra Transportation Agency Ari Narsa in Palembang, Saturday, said that his party had reviewed areas that were categorized as prone to congestion, including the Central Sumatra Cross Road on the Prabumulih-Muara Enim City section, Martapura, Ogan Komering Ulu Timur-Muara Enim.

In addition, the East Sumatra Cross Road section of Indralaya, Ogan Ilir-Palembang, Palembang (Kilometer 12)-Betung, Banyuasin-Sekkayu, Musi Banyuasin-C Jambi Province.

Congestion in each area, he said, was influenced by non-natural factors, such as spilled markets, strike vehicles, and natural disasters that resulted in a decrease in road quality.

He said the spilled market was a means of meeting the economic needs of local residents in utilizing the holiday.

Based on the team's monitoring, the location of the market spilled, including Indralaya Market (Ogan Ilir), Tugumulyo Market (Ogan Komering Ilir), Lilin-Bayung Lencir River Market (Musi Banyuasin), Padang Tepong Market, Pendopo Market, Tebing Tinggi Market (Four Lawang), Jarai Market (Lahat).

In a number of places, residents suddenly became traders of basic necessities, clothes, and knick-knacks of Ramadan and Eid.

This is considered a problem of this activity, he continued, traders often set up tents on the shoulder of the road, while hundreds of people and vehicles arriving in the area resulted in narrower roads plus an increasing volume of large vehicles.

"Although this is not the only cause of traffic jams, this is where the potential for congestion must be watched out for," he said.

At that time, there was a fairly long traffic jam, the queue of vehicles "contagious" reached 42 km on the East Sumatra Cross Road for the Palembang (KM12)-Betung section, Banyuasin-Sekayu, Musi Banyuasin.

Ari explained that for the category of disaster-prone areas, such as landslides and floods, at Simpang Martapura-Muara Dua, Simpang Campang, Ogan Komering Ulu Selatan-Ujan Mas.

In addition, Ujan Mas-batas Bengkulu Province, Muara Dua-Kota Batu, Sugi Waras-Lahat, Sekayu, Musi Banyuasin-Lubuklinggau, Pagaralam-Tanjung Raya, and Lahat-Muara Enim roads.

"Disasters have the potential to cause a decrease in road quality or even cannot be passed because they are covered by flood material or landslides," he said.

He conveyed that this phenomenon also increases the potential for accidents for travelers.

Based on Jasa Raharja's South Sumatra Branch report, there were 1,209 traffic accidents in this area starting from January-July 2022.

Ari ensured that the South Sumatra Provincial Government together with regional heads of 17 districts/cities and each ministry/institution had prepared a mitigation scheme for all factors that could potentially hinder the flow of traffic for travelers.

These efforts include forming an operating task force during the homecoming and return flow of Lebaran (19 April-1 May 2023) by alerting thousands of joint personnel to evacuation units and heavy equipment in each area.

"In principle, as directed by our governor, we continue to strive not to let the journey of travelers this year, which is estimated to increase by about 20 percent from the previous year (or reached 123.1 million travelers, ed.) by land, both for South Sumatra and only for crossings," he concluded, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, April 8.