One Way Applied on the Padang-Bukittinggi Route to Anticipate the Eid Homecoming Traffic

JAKARTA - The West Sumatra Provincial Government together with related agencies has started to implement traffic engineering in the form of one way or one-way system to anticipate traffic congestion and density during the Lebaran holiday from Padang City to Bukittinggi and vice versa.

"The implementation of one way is to reduce traffic density during the Lebaran homecoming and return flow," said West Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General Gatot Tri Suryanta in Padang Pariaman Regency, Thursday, March 19.

The Police Chief said the implementation of one way was also a strategic step in optimizing traffic engineering management. This policy is also aimed at improving public safety, especially road users.

"This effort is not only to reduce vulnerable points of congestion but also to increase public safety in traffic," said the West Sumatra Police Chief.

The official implementation of one way started on Thursday. For vehicles from Padang City to Padang Panjang City to Bukittinggi City, one way is applied from 10.00-14.00 WIB. Meanwhile, for vehicles from Bukittinggi City to Padang City, it is applied from 14.00-18.00 WIB.

Meanwhile, West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi said the implementation of traffic engineering was a form of commitment by the local government together with the police to try to make the homecoming and return flow of Lebaran 1447 Hijriah run smoothly.

"This is proof that we in West Sumatra are serious about presenting a conducive atmosphere for visitors or travelers," said the governor.

The former Mayor of Padang said that every Eid al-Fitr holiday, the traffic flow from Padang City to Bukittinggi City, which crosses Padang Panjang City, has always been a serious concern for the government. This is due to the high volume of vehicles during the Lebaran holiday that crosses these areas.