TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono planned to improve the design of toll rest areas in a bid to accommodate people during Eid homecoming and return trip.

“We’re evaluating the design of parking lots to be specially prepared, it will not be placed in all spaces of the rest area. So if people want to go to the toilet, the parking lot must be near the toilet to prevent vehicle density. So we’ll try to manage the parking lot to be quite far from stores to make it tidier,” said Basuki in a written statement, Tuesday, June 11.

Besides, he added, rest areas in the inter-city toll road section were situated near the roadside which caused congestion. Thus his ministry would evaluate the existing location of rest areas.

According to him, rest areas would be better to be jutted out into the toll, especially those located in the inter-city toll road because of the land availability.

“Moreover, the ministry plans to make use of rest areas as a toll terminal, so it requires special design to prevent congestion,” Basuki explained, adding that people support was also necessary to actuate the plan.

“No matter how much the rest area, it will not be enough with this existing condition,” he said.

As an illustration, he went on, rest areas in Palimanan and Kalikangkung could normally cater 17,000 vehicles, yet during exodus season, the figure four-fold increased to 68,000 vehicles. The implementation of the one-way traffic system also could not accommodate all homecomers to enter rest areas.

Basuki opined the homecoming return flow was indeed more crowded than the homecoming trip because homecomers returned from their hometown at almost the same time.

Nevertheless, the one-way system applied during the Eid season helped the traffic run smoothly and brought positive impact for traders along national roads. The infrastructure of toll roads and national roads was relatively good as well. “Alhamdulillah, there is no problem,” he concluded.

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO