Lunar Holidays, No Surge In Homecoming Traffic Flow

JAKARTA - Head of Operation Division of National Police Traffic Corps, Grand Commissioner Rudi Antariksa, said that the homecoming traffic flow of the Lunar New Year holiday did not experience a significant increase in vehicles, especially those heading to Central Java and East Java.

So far, according to him, the flow of vehicles leaving the Cikampek toll road towards Java has only increased by 9-10 percent.

"We are at KM 19. We checked the field at KM 19, KM 57 which will lead to Trans Java and Bandung. From noon, the flow has not yet experienced a significant increase," said Grand Commissioner Rudi Antariksa through a press release received in Jakarta, Thursday, the evening of February 11th.

"Earlier we confirmed that at the main Cikampek Toll Gate, there was a slight increase of 9-10 percent of the flow leading to Java," he continued.

Rudi said the decreasing condition of the Chinese New Year holiday homecoming was influenced by the Government's socialization through a Circular Regarding the Prohibition of Travel during the Chinese New Year for the State Civil Apparatus, the National Army, and the National Police as well as employees of State-Owned Enterprise.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic that has not ended has also made people prefer to be at home for this Chinese New Year holiday.

"So this is because the socialization of the Task Force circular about the prohibition of long trips on this long holiday is very effective for the State Civil Apparatus, the National Army-National Police, State-Owned Enterprise and appeals to private employees because it is still in a pandemic situation and because there is an extension of the implementation of community activity restrictions (PPKM). This is so that COVID-19 is completely under control," he said.

In addition, extreme weather in some areas also discourages people from traveling. One of them is the flood in Pantura and the collapse of the road at KM 122 Tol Cipali due to moving land caused by high rainfall.

"The situation is still pandemic, then the community also monitors that in this extreme weather there is damage at KM 122 Tol Cipali. Then there are floods in the Pantura routes, Semarang, Subang, and many in Pantura are flooded. So people feel that if it is not really important, why should we go,” said Rudi.

Rudi confirmed that the traffic police ranks as instructed by the Head of National Police Traffic Corps, Inspector General Istiono have prepared a number of scenarios in case of traffic congestion at points prone to traffic jams, one of which is by implementing contraflow.

"Until now there has been no (vehicle density) but we have prepared a scenario in case of congestion, usually at KM 47, the meeting of the upper and lower toll roads, later we will do a contraflow from KM 47 to KM 61 if there is a congestion. However on the field, a lot of flow (vehicles) from Java to Jakarta," he said.

Finally, Rudi said that tonight's homecoming traffic flow was monitored smoothly and well-controlled.

"Until today, the homecoming traffic flow is still smooth and under control," said this mid-rank officer ranked three jasmines.