Jakarta Logs 2.6 Million People Leaving Town during Eid Homecoming Ban

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said 1,730,463 vehicles were recorded leaving the city during the ban on Eid homecoming or mudik from May 6-15, 2021, with 714,916 vehicles passing through toll roads, while the rest 1,015,547 vehicles through arterial roads.

Meanwhile, during the same period, 1,513,267 vehicles entered Jakarta with 679,152 of them passed through toll roads and 834,115 vehicles through arterial roads.

The city administration also recorded the number of people leaving and entering the capital. “2.6 million people left and 2.2 million people entered Jakarta,” added Riza in the City Hall on Monday, May 17.

In detail, 2,607,688 left the capital with private vehicles, while 555 others boarded intercity and interprovincial (AKAP) buses. In the same period, 2,244,096 people entered Jakarta using private vehicles, while the remaining 174 took AKAP buses.

Riza appealed to people willing to return to Jakarta after celebrating Eid al-Fitr in their hometowns to not bring their relatives as the capital has already been quite crowded. He suggested people seek jobs in their respective regions, rather than in Jakarta. Moreover, the city was still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eid homecoming travelers returning to Jakarta, Riza went on, were obliged to bring a Covid-19 free letter. He said the neighboring unit (RT), community unit (RW), and subdistrict officers would ensure that people who just arrived in the capital do not develop the illness. “[We] don’t want people returning to Jakarta while carrying the virus,” he said.

Read: Police Threaten to Pick Up Eid Travelers Without Covid-19 Free Letter

ADAM PRIREZA