Over 350,000 Vehicles Leave Jakarta Amid Mudik Ban

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Amid the government’s ban on mass exodus or mudik in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, state-owned toll road operator Jasa Marga recorded a total of 367,703 vehicles had left Jakarta to west and south directions from D-7 until D-3 of Eid al-Fitr or Lebaran. The firm’s spokesman, Dwimawan Heru, said the figure was 61 percent lower than that of last year.

“Thirty nine percent of the vehicles came from to the east, 35 percent from the west, and 26 percent from the south,” said Dwimawan on Friday, May 22.

In detail, 78,013 vehicles passed through the Cikampek Utama toll gate and 64,898 vehicles via the Kalihurip toll heading east. The total figure of vehicles recorded was 142,911, dropping by 75 percent compared to last year’s number.

As many as 128,051 vehicles from the west also left Jakarta via the Cikupa gate of the Merak-Tangerang turnpike, 43 percent lower than that of last year during the Lebaran holidays. Meanwhile, 91,741 vehicles from the south traveled out of the capital through the Ciawi gate of the Jagorawi toll, 30 percent below last year’s data.

The highest number of vehicles leaving Jakarta from the three directions was recorded on D-4 of Eid al-Fitr, which was 87,377, he added.

Dwimawan further appealed to toll road users to participate in preventing further transmission of COVID-19 by refraining from going mudik and traveling this year.

“Also, please limit your trips and maintain physical distancing, leave homes for urgent matters only and wear face masks if you must go outside,” he asserted.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA