Evaluation Of The Merak Route Homecoming, Ciwandan Port To Rest Areas Prepared So That Traffic Jams Don't Happen Again

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya. (Photo: Doc. DPP PDIP)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi revealed a series of evaluations of going home by sea, especially at the Merak Port. Budi said, there are a number of records that must be corrected at Merak Port in order to avoid a repeat of the accumulation of vehicles.

First, said Budi, the need for a resting place or rest area to filter vehicles to Merak Harbor. According to Budi, the existence of the rest area can prevent homecoming vehicles from entering the Merak area at the same time.

Budi said that in holding the 2022 homecoming at Merak Port on D-4 and D-3 Eid al-Fitr, there was a relatively long queue.

"The evaluation carried out is that we will create a rest area bag. So for those who are going to Merak, they will be filtered there, if it is loose, they can start. Others we will ask for the road to be widened. In the long term, we even ask there is a bridge over there," Budi said in a virtual press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Tuesday, May 24.

Second, Budi continued, the Ministry of Transportation will also activate the Ciwandan Port as an additional port to transport passengers on holidays or weekends.

"Because Ciwandan is 4-5 kilometers from Merak, so it can accommodate 3-4 piers there," he said.

Then, continued Budi, the Ministry of Transportation will also give permission to Pelindo to operate heavy vehicles, but only on big holidays.

"Saturday-Sunday passengers can use it. So the number of 7 docks in Merak will be added to 3-4 in Ciwandan," he explained.

Another evaluation, said Budi, is the management in and out of the port entry terminal to the ship. According to Budi, his party will use new technology to facilitate mobilization at Merak Port.

"In Merak itself, we will conduct an evaluation, as the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture found that the up-and-down management is still taking a long time. So we will use technology, using a more intensive system so that the process of getting in and out of the terminal to the ship is better," he said. .

Then, Budi said, what makes people happy to go home using ships is not driving a vehicle for a long time. In addition, the travelers also get entertainment on the boat.

"An activity that is blessed to be entertainment is when there is a long-distance Pelni ship from Ciwandan to Panjang. But instead, people are happy to use the ship, because they don't have to spend a long time driving the vehicle, they also get entertainment. So during Lebaran later some are 2.5 hours, some are 7 hours, but there are additional activities that are there," he explained.