Ministry Of Transportation Provides Free Homecoming When Nataru, People Are Asked Not To Go Home On Motorcycles

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi said the government will provide free homecoming programs for the Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 (Nataru) holidays.

That way, people do not need to force themselves to return to their hometowns on motorbikes.

"Regarding motorbikes, I, with all humility, should not use motorbikes and we will provide free homecoming for those who will go home and also motorbikes," Budi said after the Commission V Joint Working Meeting at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, written Wednesday, November 22.

Even so, Budi has not explained in more detail how much free homecoming quota will be prepared during the 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year holidays this time.

However, when referring to the moment of this year's Eid al-Fitr homecoming, the Ministry of Transportation has prepared a free homecoming program with a choice of transportation modes, both land, sea, and train.

Previously reported, based on data from the Transportation Policy Agency (BKT) of the Ministry of Transportation, the total number of travelers during the 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year holidays is projected to reach 107.63 million people, an increase of 143 percent from last year.

Budi said that one of the factors that encouraged the high spike in travelers was because this year there were no obstacles to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, Budi said, out of a total of 107.63 million people who are predicted to carry out movements, the majority of people still use private cars for mobilization.

"The mode of transportation used by private cars is number one, the prima donna is 35.57 percent or 39.9 million people," Budi said at the DPR Commission V Working Meeting, at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 21.

After the private car, continued Budi, motorcycles are the second most transportation mode used by the public to travel, although very vulnerable.

"The number is 17.9 percent or the equivalent of 20.14 million people. Trains are 13.16 percent or 14.79 million people," he said.