Unraveling Vehicle Density During Lebaran 2023 Homecoming, The Ministry Of Transportation Will Operate Ciwandan Port, Banten

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

The Directorate General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) will operate Ciwandan Port, Banten, in order to unravel the density at Merak Port to Bakauheni, Lampung, during the Lebaran 2023 homecoming period.

The Director General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Hendro Sugiatno explained that the high number of travelers this year is a consideration of the Ministry of Transportation to operate Ciwandan Port for homecoming as the results of a survey from the Transportation Policy Agency (BKT).

Hendro said, referring to the BKT survey, there must be extraordinary steps. Therefore, this year's homecoming management must be better than the previous year.

"One of the efforts to anticipate that, later we will use (Ciwandan Port) specifically for crossings," he said in a virtual press conference, Monday, March 13.

Furthermore, Hendro said, Ciwandan Port will later be provided by Ro-Ro ships heading to Bakauheni Port. In addition, there are also large ships heading to Panjang Harbor.

"The Ciwandan Port is not an alternative, but the port that was used together during the implementation of the homecoming flow, Ciwandan will later prepare 12 Ro-ro ships from Ciwandan to Bakauheni and 3 large ships serving at Ciwandan Port to Panjang, 1 Pelni, and 2 PT ALP," he explained.

With this operation, Hendro hopes that the crossing can be properly divided between Ciwandan and Merak.

"Hopefully later at the crossing it can be divided properly," he said.

Special For Motorcycles And Trucks

Hendro emphasized that Ciwandan Port will be prioritized for motorcycle and truck users who may operate during the Lebaran 2023 homecoming period.

Even so, Hendro still opens the possibility that vehicles other than motorbikes and trucks can use crossing access and Ciwandan Port later.

"Especially for motorbikes and not interfering (with other vehicles), motorbikes are directed through the port of Ciwandan, and trucks that can be operated later to Ciwandan. But (types of vehicles) others can use Ciwandan (also)," said Hendro.