Korlantas Polri Evaluation Of Traffic Congestion Towards Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport

Head of the Traffic Corps (Kakorlantas) Polri Brigadier General Pol. Aan Suhanan (central) gave a press statement after holding a limited meeting at the Bali Regional IV Airport Authority Office, Badung, Tuesday (9/1/2024). ANTARA/Rolandus Nampu

The National Police Traffic Corps together with the Bali Regional IV Airport Authority conducted an evaluation and prepared a strategy for congestion that occurred in the end of the 2023 holidays, especially on the route to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Head of the Traffic Corps (Kakorlantas) of the National Police, Brigadier General Aan Suhanan, said that the National Police, Ministry of Transportation, Jasa Marga, Airport Authority, Bali Police need to formulate future strategies to avoid congestion as happened during the new year-end holidays.

He admitted that there were several things that affected congestion on the route to Ngurah Rai Airport, namely an increase in the number of passengers and the volume of vehicles entering Bali Island as well as the activities of people parking vehicles on the side of the road.

"We noted that there are several things that have increased the peak flow. The peak of the flow is the airport, especially on 22 and 23, people and vehicles. We can say that the traffic flow on that date is still normal and regular. The 29th if you look at the number is below the 23rd," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 9.

Based on the results of a brief evaluation with other relevant stakeholders, there are several things that need to be addressed on the routes to the airport and inside Ngurah Rai Airport itself, such as traffic engineering, parking lots, additional lanes in the airport, and long-term plans to build flyovers to Ngurah Rai Airport.

"In the future, we will make several changes to traffic engineering around the airport to the Bali Mandara Toll Road, then at the airport itself I received a report from Mr. GM that it will also make changes to traffic flow so that there is no crossing anymore. And there are several taxi transfers to places that do not interfere with airport entry and exit access," said Aan Suhanan.

These plans are included in the short-term, long-term and long-term solutions that have been coordinated with all parties and followed up through technical meetings of all stakeholders.

"Shortly, inside the airport there is no more crossing flow between pedestrians and vehicles. Then the full taxi transfer is moved to an uninterrupted place. Our airport and transportation authorities make traffic engineering when it is congested, moderate and very congested," he said.

According to information from the National Police Headquarters, specifically on December 29, 2023, congestion and traffic jams were triggered by the large number of vehicles parked on the shoulder of the road as well as community activities and supported by the narrow road conditions in Bali.

"I heard that the field was parked on the shoulder of the road, on the road, there were community activities, indeed on that day there was an increase in community mobilization. There were good days activities in Bali so that there were many mobilizations on the road. So, we don't point out who was wrong, who contributed. All contributed to the incident 29, "he said.

Meanwhile, General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Handy Heryudhitiawan added that in anticipation of congestion in the airport area, his party will add lanes and arrangements for passenger reductions.

"In the airport plus lanes. Now there are two that will be used as three or four. Later there will be vehicle flow repairs, international parking buildings. Indeed, there are turns that are quite broken, causing queues so that we will make the flow smoother so that the flow is faster," said Handy.