Homecoming Cars Crowded On The Madura Line, Dominated By The Bali, Malang And Jakarta Plates

Illustration - Bangkakan Police traffic officers distribute masks to travelers who do not wear them on the Bangkalan homecoming route to Sampang. ANTARA/Abd Aziz

BANGKALAN - Four-wheeled vehicles were observed crowding the homecoming route on Madura Island, East Java, starting from Bangkalan Regency, Sampang, to Pamekasan Regency.

Vehicles that cross this route are generally vehicles with number plates outside Madura, such as Surabaya (L), Bali (DK), Malang (N) and Jakarta (B) license plates.

"The crowds have been happening since morning, and most of the drivers passing by are residents from outside Madura," said Pamekasan Regency Transportation Service Officer Hairul, quoted by Antara, Saturday, April 30.

The density of traffic flow on the route connecting the four regencies on Madura Island has also been observed to increase, which is between 50 and 60 vehicles per minute or an increase compared to the average daily density which is only between 20 and 40 units per minute.

In addition to Pamekasan, traffic density on D-1 Lebaran also occurred on a number of roads in Bangkalan Regency, including Jalan Blega, Jalan Tanah Merah, and Jalan Raya Galis, Bangkalan.

Apart from the increase in the volume of vehicles, the density of traffic flow on the homecoming route is also due to a spilled market, so that the speed of motorized vehicles from Surabaya heading to Pamekasan and vice versa is disrupted.

"In Galis, there was even a queue of more than 2 kilometers in the afternoon and evening, but for tonight, it seems to have started to slope," said Head of the Galis Bangkalan Police, Iptu Bagus Setioko Darmawan.

Combined officers from elements of the police, TNI and the Bangkalan Regency Transportation Service (Dishub) were observed trying to break down traffic jams, even occasionally distributing masks to travelers and not wearing masks.

The total number of joint officers deployed to secure the homecoming and return flow for Lebaran 1443 Hijriah in Bangkalan Regency was 345 people, while in Pamekasan Regency 200 people and in Sampang Regency as many as 320 people.