The Government Is Asked To Anticipate The Surge In Passengers And Extreme Weather Ahead Of Christmas And New Year

Extreme weather illustration (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission V DPR RI from the PKB faction, Syafyuddin asked the government to anticipate three main things in the face of the 2025 Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holidays. Namely congestion, surged passengers, and extreme weather so that people can go on vacation safely.

According to Syafyuddin, traffic congestion cannot be avoided every Christmas and New Year holidays. This is because many people return to their hometowns, travel, and visit relatives' homes, and other activities.

"So, the volume of vehicles increases on the streets. The main roads and toll roads are becoming congested. For this reason, various steps are needed to anticipate congestion," said Syafiuddin, Wednesday, December 18.

For example, continued Syafyuddin, by engineering traffic, operating toll roads functionally on several sections, and expanding toll roads.

"Anticipation of traffic jams must be carried out immediately, so that there is no accumulation of vehicles during Naru," he continued.

Based on data from Korlantas Polri, said Syafiuddin, there are more than 700 accident-prone points and congestion. Congestion-prone points and accidents on toll roads, including the Batang' Semarang and South Japek sections, and Ngawi' Surabaya. Then there is a point of fatigue that becomes a black spot. There are at least four tired points on the toll road that have been detected.

The next anticipation, said Syafyuddin, was carried out to deal with a surge in passengers. According to him, many people will use public transportation, so that the number of passengers rises sharply.

PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry predicts an increase in the number of passengers by up to 14 percent compared to the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) Regional 4 predicts an increase in passenger flow of around 12.5 percent or 2,165,815 people at the 2025 Nataru homecoming.

"Therefore, the surge in passengers must be anticipated, so that people can use public transportation properly and remain comfortable," said the East Java XI electoral district legislator.

In addition, added Syafyuddin, what needs to be anticipated is extreme weather. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), he said, had issued an early warning of extreme weather in the form of increasing rainfall by 20 percent during Christmas and New Year 2025.

Extreme weather is expected to have the potential to occur until March-April 2025. This is influenced by the phenomenon of weak La Nina which can increase rainfall by 20 percent.

"Before traveling, people must pay close attention to the weather. Because recently extreme atmospheres often occur," concluded Syafyuddin.