TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said his ministry would focus on the safety, instead of the traffic issue during Eid homecoming season this year as it was predicted that Indonesians would mostly take land routes.

“We previously concerned on strategies to prevent congestion, but now on the safety issue,” said Budi Karya in a coordinating meeting with several stakeholders today morning, April 22.

The meeting was attended by Indonesian Armed Force (TNI), National Police (Polri), and representatives of SOEs. Budi estimated people from Jakarta Greater Area (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi) and its vicinity would utilize land routes due to high airfare and the newly-built Trans Java toll road.

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The minister asserted routes along Trans Java toll road required special monitoring by the police and the ministry in a bid to suppress accident rate. The route prone to the accident is Cikampek - Semarang toll road. Additionally, congestion might possibly occur in toll gates of Merak, Jakarta-Cikampek, Cigombong, Kalikangkung, Colomadu, and Ngawi.

Budi Karya then demanded Land Transportation Directorate General immediately conduct ramp check for buses transporting passengers for this year’s Eid homecoming season. Bus operators were also expected to deploy maximum units of fleets to operate during the period as the number of passengers was predicted to increase.

Based on the survey conducted by the Transportation Ministry’s research and development agency, the total homecomers would reach 18.3 million people.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA