Ministry Of Transportation Prepares Strategy To Face The Surge In Ketapang Port Passengers

Homecomers use crossed cars using ferries. ANTARA/HO-Ditjen Hubla, Ministry of Transportation.

JAKARTA - The East Java Class II Land Transportation Management Center has prepared a number of strategies to deal with a surge in passengers until D-1 Lebaran 2024 at the Ketapang and Janger Ferry Port, East Java.

"At Ketapang Port during the homecoming flow to D-1 Idul Fitri, there has been a surge in passengers compared to 2023, the peak is on D-4 with the movement of passengers towards Bali as many as 32,466 passengers with a percentage increase of 38 percent and a total of 5,986 vehicles with an increase percentage of 27 percent compared to the previous year," said the Supervisor of the Ketapang Ferry Port Service Unit, Bayu Kusumo Nugroho, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, April 10.

A number of strategies issued were the Ministry of Transportation together with Korlantas Polri and the Ministry of PUPR issued a Joint Decree (SKB) on Road Traffic Regulation and Crossing During the Homecoming Flow and Backflow of Eid Transportation in 2024/1445 H.

One of the contents of the Joint Decree regulates the movement of people's transportation and goods at the ferry port at the Ketapang - Gilimanuk and Janger - Lembar crossings.

He explained that apart from the arrangements written in the Joint Decree, when there was a surge in passengers and vehicles at Ketapang Port, several strategies had been designed with several indicators, one of which was when there was already a long queue, the ship that was operated was a ship with a large load capacity.

"Homecomers who will cross, so that before entering Ketapang Port, they are expected to have purchased tickets online and travelers are expected to maintain body health amidst weather uncertainty and always comply with the safety rules that apply on board," added Bayu.

Similar to Ketapang Port, the Anchor Port in Situbondo which serves the Jangkat to Lembar and Janger to the Islands also experienced an increase in passengers and vehicles from Eid transportation the previous year.

"There has been an increase in passengers and vehicles at the Anchor Port rather than the previous year, in response to this, in addition to the rules written in the Joint Decree, We will add regular trips and bring in aid ships when there is a surge and queue of crowded passengers," explained the Supervisory Unit of the Jangkaran Ferry Port Service Unit, Rochman Setiawan in Situbondo at the same time.

In line with that, he also advised travelers who will cross at the Janger Port to be more careful, especially when buying tickets so they don't get fooled by brokers and plan to travel as well as possible so that unwanted things don't happen.