Government Officially Issues Prohibition Of Homecoming, Jasa Marga: No Directive To Close Toll Roads

Illustration of a toll road. (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - The government has officially issued a policy to prohibit the homecoming of Eid Al-Fitr or Eid 2020. Following up on the government's decision, PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk will coordinate with the Ministry of Transportation and Korlantas Polri to impose restrictions on toll road sections.

The COVID-19 virus pandemic, which is increasingly spreading in Indonesia, has forced the Eid homecoming tradition to be banned for the first time. As is known, this virus spreads through physical contact. Therefore, this prohibition policy was taken to prevent the spread of the virus through community mobility.

Regional Division Head Jasamarga Metropolitan Tollroad Reza Febriano said that currently his party is in a position to await the legal basis and regulations related to the banning of homecoming which has been officially enforced by the government.

"The direction from the government is that there is no toll road closure, there are restrictions. Indeed, until now we are still waiting for the legal basis and regulations," he said, in a virtual discussion held by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) in Jakarta, Wednesday, 22 April.

Reza said that this morning survey activities were carried out directly led by Dirlantas at points planned as checkpoints.

"Check points will be placed in several locations, such as in the west, namely Tangerang, then in the south on the Jagorawi toll road and later in the east," he said.

Regarding law enforcement, Reza said, Jasa Marga will prepare personnel and traffic equipment in the context of this restriction.

"So in nature we support what will be carried out by the police, in this case the Polda Metro Jaya, Korlantas Polri, as well as directions from the Ministry of Transportation," he explained.

In addition, Reza also appealed to the public not to go home. This is because this is in line with Jasa Marga's support for the government in suppressing the spread of COVID-19. However, people who are forced to do activities outside the home are in order to comply with the COVID-19 protocol established by the government.

Prepare the Regulations

On Tuesday, April 21, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) decided that the government would no longer appeal but firmly prohibit people from going home. Transportation is expected to play an active role in preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Following up on this, Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Adita Irawati said the Ministry of Transportation would immediately prepare a Minister of Transportation Regulation.

Adita said that the drafting of this Permenhub regulation will involve relevant stakeholders such as the Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT), the Police and so on.

"For this reason, the Ministry of Transportation will immediately prepare a Minister of Transportation Regulation which regulates the prohibition of going home, including the sanctions for violating the rules," he said, in a written statement.

According to Adita, the transportation regulations regarding the ban on going home apply to public transportation of passengers and private vehicles. "The ban began on April 24, 2020 in stages, in stages and continuously, and began to be fully sanctioned on May 7, 2020," he said.

"The homecoming ban will be enforced until the 2nd of Shawwal 1441 H, and can adjust to the dynamics of the development of the COVID-19 pandemic," he continued.

Adita explained that the scenario that will be prepared is traffic restriction on access roads in and out of the area, not road closures. This is done because what is prohibited from passing is transportation carrying only passengers, while freight or logistics can still operate.

The homecoming prohibition applies to the Jabodetabek area and areas that have been determined to apply Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) and also areas that are included in the red zone of the COVID-19 virus.

According to Adita, the ban on going home will not allow traffic of people to enter and leave the area, especially Jabodetabek. However, it still allows the flow of people inside Jabodetabek (agglomeration).

"Mass transportation within Jabodetabek such as KRL will also not be closed or its operations stopped. This is to make it easier for people who continue to work, especially health workers, hospital cleaning services, and so on," he said.