Avoid Going Home At The End Of April: There Are 23 Million Cars And 17 Motorbikes On The Streets

Congestion at Tanjakan Gentong, Tasiikmalaya Regency is a routine sight in every holiday season, including Lebaran. (AMONG)

JAKARTA - This year's Eid, the spirit of the community, especially Muslims, is very bright as the Eid holidays are getting closer. Where do you want to go this year? Bandung, Semarang, Medan or Padang?

Moreover, this year's homecoming permit has been pocketed from the government. Unlike two years ago, due to the still high spread of COVID-19, many homecomers have been playing around with officers for Eid in their hometowns.

Through the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube account on April 20, 2022 which was also uploaded to his official Instagram account, President Joko Widodo said that there would be 23 million cars and 17 million motorcycles used by travelers this year. This figure is a very large number and severe congestion is expected to occur. Jokowi also appealed to avoid the peak of going home on April 28-30 2022.

"I invite the public to avoid the peak flow of going home on April 28, 29 and 30, 2022. I invite people to go home earlier, of course adjusting to the holiday schedule from work," said Jokowi.

Congestion at the Bakauheni toll gate, Lampung. (AMONG)

Therefore, it is necessary for people who want to go home to arrange their travel schedule in order to avoid these times. The government has also prepared steps to anticipate traffic jams during the homecoming flow.

"The government has prepared traffic engineering through odd-even rules, one-way enforcement, and prohibition of trucks from entering toll roads," he said.

Closing his statement, Jokowi also reminded the public to remain disciplined in implementing health protocols.

"Don't forget to adhere to health protocols, especially wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining distance," said Jokowi.

The government urges people to avoid going home at times predicted to be the peak of the homecoming flow in order to avoid traffic jams.

With such a large number of vehicles, it is estimated that it will cause severe congestion on various sections of the homecoming route. Collaboration with the community is needed to organize non-concurrent travel. The peak of the homecoming flow is estimated on April 28, 2022.

Ships can be an alternative for Lebaran travelers. (ANTARA/Didik Suhartono)

According to the Korlantas Polri records, there are 23 toll roads that are prone to congestion during the 2022 Eid homecoming, and all of them are Trans Java.

"Yes, there are 23 toll roads that are prone to traffic jams," said Head of the Operations Section of the National Police's Korlantas Kombes Eddy Djunaedi to VOI, Tuesday, April 19.

The toll road sections that are prone to congestion are in Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, and East Java.

This has led to an agreement between Korlantas and the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) to implement a traffic scheme to break up congestion or congestion, namely odd-even and one-way.

Meanwhile, the West Java Provincial Transportation Service mapped several congestion points on the 2022 Eid homecoming route. According to the West Java Provincial Transportation Agency A. Koswara, the congestion points for the West Java homecoming route include Cileunyi, Bandung Regency, Cagak Nagrek Road, Bandung Regency, Malangbong Region, Regency of Bandung. Garut, and Gentong Circle.

Must be Prepared Thoroughly

Public policy observer Trubus Rahardiasyah stated that the government must carefully prepare for going home, if not managed properly, going home in large numbers has the potential to trigger many problems such as traffic jams, accidents, and crime.

"If there are more than 80 million homecomers, it means that there will be congestion on toll roads, the implementation of odd-even will cause congestion on arterial roads. In my opinion, the potential for accidents, prone to crime will be very high," he said, as quoted by Antara on April 11.

Trubus also emphasized that COVID-19 is still a threat with new variants. The number of cases can increase at any time, so the public must always be reminded.

Homecoming this year is like a longing debt that will be repaid, because the green light for going home has been eagerly awaited since COVID-19 has slowed down. The ban on going home two years ago, because of fears that it would become a link in the chain of spreading the virus in his hometown.

But the dogs barked, the caravan passed, because there were still many people who were desperate to go back and forth in a way that made us shake our heads. Starting from taking an ambulance, riding a vegetable truck, hiding in a cow carrying truck, using the attributes of an online motorcycle taxi, to renting a towing, all for the desire to return home.

Homecomers on motorbikes rest because they are tired. (ANTARA/Oky Lukmansyah)

The 2020 homecoming ban after the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Panjaitan enacted the rules as of 24 April 2020, and the sanctions came into effect on 7 May 2020. This is due to the high spike in COVID-19 not only in Indonesia but almost all over the world.

However, the recklessness of residents returning to their hometowns was mainly triggered because the first year of the pandemic was a very difficult time, especially in Jakarta. Many residents have no income or have been sent home due to the impact of the pandemic. Going home was the best solution at that time.

This year the COVID-19 is sloping, the economy is starting to grow. Everyone's wish to return to go home for Eid has finally come true. Tickets for all types of accommodation have been sold in advance.

Homecoming is definitely synonymous with long traffic jams on the way. That is why Jokowi advised his citizens not to go at the peak of the homecoming flow, in order to reduce congestion. Traffic jams are not fun, but traffic jams this year are more meaningful. After two years of not going home for Eid. This congestion is a feeling of hate but longing.