Note For Those Who Go Home To West Sumatra, There Are Changes In The Settings Of The One Way Padang-Bukittinggi Route

Head of the Transportation Service, Dedy Diantolani, accompanied Governor Mahyeldi to review the road conditions for Eid homecoming. (Doc. ANTARA/HO-Biro Adpim West Sumatra)

PADANG - It is common that during the Lebaran period, the main route traffic flow in West Sumatra that connects Bukittinggi City to Padang City experienced severe congestion. Traditional market activities on several roads also affect the potential for congestion.

The West Sumatra Transportation Agency stated that the route arrangements for the one-way road policy on the Padang-Bukittinggi route and vice versa at the 2024 homecoming in West Sumatra changed according to the announcement of the Governor of West Sumatra Number 550/276/DISHUB-SB/III/2024.

Head of the West Sumatra Transportation Service, Dedy Diantolani in Padang, Friday said the Governor's Announcement was related to Amendments to the Announcement of the Governor of West Sumatra Number 550/251/DISHUB- SB/III/2024 concerning Road Traffic Regulations During Homecoming Flows and Return Flows for Eid Transportation in 2024/1445 Hijriah in West Sumatra Province. Dedy said in the previous announcement that the route to be used was on the one-way road policy. However, based on the Decree of the Cross Coordination Meeting of the Operations Sectoral Ketupat Singgalang 2024, on Wednesday (27/3), the route changed based on its implementation time. The implementation of the one-way system before Eid al-Fitr, namely on April 7-9, 2024, was enforced with the Padang - Bukittinggi route via Padang Panjang, and the Bukittinggi - Padang route via Malalak.

Meanwhile, after Eid or on April 11-15, 2024, the Padang - Bukittinggi route is enforced via Malalak, and Bukittinggi - Padang via Padang Panjang. One-way system will start at 12.00 WIB until 17.00 WIB every day according to schedule. "Meanwhile, on the day of H or April 10, One Way was abolished. This change is based on several considerations, including the number of vehicles before and after Eid al-Fitr it is different. Especially during Eid al-Fitr, the flow of vehicles tends to be quiet," he said, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, March 30. Dedy added, this change was made in order to ensure the safety, security, order, and smooth running of traffic and road transportation as well as optimize the use and movement of traffic during Eid 2024/1445 hijri. "We will re-socialize the change of this route so that the public is not mistaken later," he said. The provisions in implementing the one-way road rules, according to him, are excluded from vehicles with high levels of urgency to the needs of the community, such as Pertamina tank vehicles carrying BBM, fire engines and ambulance vehicles under the supervision of the Police.