It Is Estimated That There Will Be Severe Traffic Jams, Jokowi Invites The Public To Avoid The Peak Of The Homecoming Flow On April 29-30

President Jokowi gives a statement Monday, April 18 / PHOTO via Youtube Presidential Secretariat

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) invites the public to go home for Eid before 28-30 April. The goal is to avoid severe traffic jams that occur because the number of homecomers who will return to their hometowns is estimated to reach millions of people.

"I invite the public to avoid the peak of the homecoming flow on April 28, 29 and 30, 2022," Jokowi said in a video caption uploaded to the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Monday, April 18.

Jokowi then mentioned that based on the results of a survey conducted by the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), there are at least 23 million cars and 17 million motorcycles that will be used by travelers. This figure is large enough that a number of ways will be prepared by the government to prevent congestion.

"The government has prepared traffic engineering through odd-even rules, the application of one-way one-way, and a ban on trucks from entering toll roads," he said.

Even so, Jokowi still wants people to return to their hometowns so that no homecomers are stuck in traffic jams. "Of course, adjusting to the holiday schedule from work," said the former governor of DKI Jakarta.

In addition, he also asked the public to continue to comply with health protocols. This step is important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 even though the number of cases can now be controlled.

"Don't forget to follow health protocols, especially wearing masks, washing your hands, and keeping your distance," he said.

As previously reported, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said the government's action plan to deal with the 2022 Eid homecoming flow was 100 percent ready.

Moeldoko in a written statement to the press in Jakarta, Tuesday, said the readiness of the action plan can be seen from all infrastructure, including sea, air and land transportation.

This includes toll roads and non-toll roads, traffic management, availability of fuel oil, electricity to the implementation of health protocols and COVID-19 vaccinations.

This was conveyed after chairing the Coordination Meeting of the Presidential Staff Office with the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of PUPR, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Police, Task Force for Handling COVID-19, and a number of related institutions, Tuesday 12 April.

"From the reports of each ministry, it shows that the action plan for readiness to face the homecoming flow is 100 percent, it just needs coordination and collaboration between ministries/agencies," said Moeldoko.