TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Transportation Ministry would again establish the program of free homecoming trip, locally known mudik, this year. The ministry’s director general of land transportation Budi Setiyadi said that the government had earmarked Rp34.5 billion for the program.

“The figure increases by 20 percent when compared to the last year’s similar program which amounted to Rp27.6 billion,” said Budi at a press conference Tuesday, March 19, at the ministry’s building in Central Jakarta.

Budi explained the ministry set a target to provide free ride transportation for 54,000 homecomers, up by 18 percent from last year’s 44,041 passengers. The ministry would also prepare 1,200 buses from the 1,073 free buses made available last year.

The program would accommodate more destinations up to 40 regions across West Java, Central Java, and East Java, and several cities in Sumatra such as Lampung and Palembang as well.

Budi continued to say that the free ride program would be different than that of last year. “We will focus on homecomers using a motorcycle to join the free ride program,” he added.

Therefore, to reduce the number of homecoming travelers using motorbikes, the ministry would provide 100 unit of trucks for motorcycle transportation. It was expected to transport as many as 3,500 motorbikes.

People interested in the free homecoming trip program could register via a website of the Transportation Department. Homecomer using motorcycle is required to submit the vehicle registration document (STNK) that will be valid for one family.

DIAS PRASONGKO