Merak Bakauheni Becomes The Main Focus, The Government Prepares Special Strategies During Nataru

Merak Port (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Merak Bakauheni crossing route is again the government's main focus in dealing with the surge in people's movements during the Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 (Nataru) periods.

The Director General of Land Transportation, Aan Suhanan, ensured that all current regulation scenarios had been prepared considering that this route was the busiest gate connecting Java and Sumatra.

Merak Port is one of the crucial points in managing Nataru transportation and is being monitored by the community. This means that it requires good and full synergy management between stakeholders so that the services we provide are in accordance with the expectations of the community," he said in an official statement, Tuesday, December 9.

The results of a community movement survey show that the Merak' Bakauheni route remains the most popular crossing route. Therefore, the potential for a surge in vehicle volume is expected to be concentrated in these two main ports.

Responding to this situation, the government prepared the distribution of ports based on the group of vehicles to break the flow so that it does not accumulate only in Merak or Bakauheni.

Aan explained that on the Java side, Merak, Ciwandan, Bojonegara BBJ, and Krakatau Bandar Samudera ports had been prepared. Meanwhile, on the Sumatra side, there are Bakauheni, Panjang, Wika Beton, and BBJ Muara Pilu ports.

"We have determined the port distribution on the Java side and the Sumatra side through the SKB which must be obeyed by officers and operators during the Nataru operation. We see that the pairing between ports is right so there won't be a bottleneck, hopefully with the distribution of this dock it can unravel the flow of traffic on land," he explained.

Anticipating extreme weather that often occurs at the peak of the rainy season, the government has also prepared a delay system to regulate the rhythm of vehicles to Merak and Bakauheni when the ship cannot operate temporarily.

Aan assessed that this strategy can be applied, especially when bad weather occurs such as high waves or strong winds which cause ship delays to sail.

"Delaying system is very likely to be implemented, especially since the BMKG predictions from December to January are the peak of the rainy season and there are cyclone seeds that cause high rainfall and waves as well as strong winds that affect crossings. Safety or is the main thing," said Aan.

Aan emphasized that all land traffic regulations to port operations have been synergized with all stakeholders for the safety and security of the community as well as the success of the Nataru transportation operation.

"We have prepared all strategies, ranging from SOPs, traffic arrangements, to port distribution. The state is here to provide the best service to the community wholeheartedly," said Aan.

Meanwhile, the Head of Traffic Police, Inspector General Pol. Agus Suryonugroho conveyed that the preparation for the Nataru operation was a state commitment to ensure public safety, order, and smooth travel during the Nataru holiday.

Agus said, during the Nataru period, the state must be present to maintain harkamtibmas (Masy Public Order Security Maintenance) and realize Kamseltibcarlantas (Security, Safety, Order and Traffic Smooth).

"We together with all stakeholders carry out surveys from toll roads to Merak Port. The Nataru operation has been prepared optimally through collaboration to maintain public security and traffic flow must be smooth and when there is extreme weather, we will adjust the scenario of how to act," said Agus.