Starting To Operate Today, Ciwandan Port Is An Alternative For Merak For The 2024 Eid Homecoming

Illustration - Ciwadan Port. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo has started operating Ciwandan Port in Cilegon, Banten, today.

The port is an alternative to accommodate travelers who will travel to Sumatra Island.

Pelindo Company Secretariat Group Head, Ardhy Wahyu Basuk, said that Ciwandan Port only serves travelers who want to cross to Sumatra using motorbikes.

In addition, said Ardhy, Pelindo also serves crossings for trucks diverted from Merak Port during the Lebaran 2024 homecoming period.

"We have prepared the Ciwan land for trucks and motorbikes because Merak is already very crowded," he said in a media briefing in Jakarta, Wednesday, April 3.

Ardhy said the capacity of the Ciwandan Port waiting area for motorcycles covering an area of 7,000 square meters. He said the waiting area could accommodate 2,000 motorbikes. Meanwhile, the storage capacity for trucks is 200 trucks.

"We have prepared a buffer parking area in Ciwandan for logistics trucks of 25 thousand square meters, that's a capacity of 200 trucks," said Ardhy.

As is known, the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) limits the operation of goods transportation to Merak Port during the Lebaran 2024 homecoming period.

Restrictions are carried out on toll roads and non-toll roads to Merak Port, starting April 5, 2024 at 09.00 WIB, until April 16, 2024 at 08.00 WIB.

Restrictions on the operation of freight transport include:

Cars of goods with three or more axes, affix train, or a trailer. Goods cars used for the transportation of excavated products (land, sand, stone) and mining products, as well as building materials such as iron, cement, and wood.

The goods vehicles that are excluded are basic ingredients (rice, sugar, corn, soybeans, onions, chilies, meat, eggs, chicken, cooking oil, and so on). Pupuk, livestock, animal feed, and natural disaster management needs.

Then, fuel oil (BBM) or gas fuel (BBG), election logistics or recovery, delivery of money, and motorbikes for free and return.