Disbursing IDR 15.3 Billion For Ticket Subsidies, Ministry Of Transportation Holds Free Homecoming For Shiplines

Illustration of Eid homecoming using a ship (Photo: between)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has prepared a budget of Rp. 15.3 billion to provide ship tickets. This is in the free homecoming program through sea transportation modes, during the Eid al-Fitr 2024 holiday.

Director of Traffic and Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Hendri Ginting said the budget had increased compared to the previous year.

"We subsidized tickets this year. So there was indeed an increase in the budget from Rp. 10.2 billion the previous year, this year to Rp. 15.3 billion," said Hendri quoting Antara.

He explained that there was a change in the pattern of implementing the free homecoming this year. Previously in 2023, the Ministry of Transportation rented the Pelni ship in carrying out the program. But this year with a ticket subsidy system.

"So we have prepared a very large subsidy for this ticket, but it will be even more efficient with ticket subsidies. Not by operating the ship," said Hendri.

According to Hendri, this is very appropriate and will be more effective and streamline the program and can prevent the ship's vacancy during the free homecoming departure day.

"Because operating a ship seems the same as friends at the Directorate General of Land Transportation, many registered but on the day of departure the ship was not full," said Hendri.

In general, the Ministry of Transportation has prepared free homecoming and return quotas during Eid al-Fitr 1445 Hijri as much as 48,889 for passengers and 4,800 for two-wheeled vehicles outside of electric motors through sea transportation modes throughout Indonesia.

Of the quota of 48,889 passengers, 9,600 of them are quotas for the Jakarta-Semarang shipping route, while the other 39,289 quotas are passenger quotas for passengers outside Java Island, spread over 50 port routes throughout Indonesia.

Hendri said the free homecoming program and free tickets initiated by his party were real efforts by the government in supporting community mobility and improving safety and welfare during the Lebaran homecoming period in 2024.

"This is comprehensive throughout Indonesia, so it's fairer. Sometimes we are asked why only in Java, so we have answered our brothers in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and even Maluku and Papua, so this is more evenly distributed," said Hendri again.

The Ministry of Transportation's free homecoming through sea transportation involves private companies and SOEs, namely PT Dharma Indah 11 route with a quota of 16,684 people, PT Pelawan Sakti Makmur 3 route with a quota of 5,476 people, PT Dharma Lautan Utama 5 route with a quota of 4,117 people, and Pelni 30 route with a quota of 13,012 people.

Hendri added that the registration process for the free homecoming program can be carried out by all people through the official website of homecoming.dephub.go.id. Registration is done online to prevent irresponsible brokers or individuals.

Later there will be a final check of the KTP. Because our hope is really useful and useful for all of our brothers," said Hendri.