IDUL FITRI EXODUS HAS BEGUN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 23 (ANTARA)  - This year's exodus of about 15.5 million post-fasting Idul Fitri or Lebaran travelers bagan this week  with its peak expected to take place at the weekend or three days before the Idul Fitri D-Day.          The beginning of the exodus was seen on Tuesday at a number of main land routes and points of departure such as Java's northern highway, trans-Sumatra highway, Jakarta's railway station and seaport, the Marak-Bakauheni and Gilimanuk-Ketapang ferry ports.          The ministry of transportation has predicted that the number of Idul Fitri travelers this year is estimated at 15.5 million people, up 4.17 percent compared with last year's 14.9 million. The number of those coming from Jakarta alone is predicted to reach 7.129 million, up 12.98 percent from last year's.          In view of the needs  of the home-bound Lebaran trevelers, the government said it had made preparations to ensure that their trips would be comfortable and safe.          "Generally all elements are ready to support and smooth the flow of Idul Fitri travelers with adequate infrastructure and transportation means. In fact, it is predicted that the capacity of vehicles will exceed the number of travelers," Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said on Tuesday.          He said the government had anticipated an increase in the number of travelers this year. For example, the National Police provided a ship to carry passengers using motorcycles. It was expected to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents.          Hatta said fuel and gas stock was enough to fulfill vehicles' demand. "Fuel stock is enough to meet national demand for the commodities for 20 to 22 days ahead," said the minister.          The minister in his capacity of the general chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) also on Tuesday bode farewell to about 5,000 home-coming Lebaran travelers. The program was organized by PAN.          "On the birthday of PAN today, we want to share our happiness with the people, particularly the needy ones so that they will be able to observe the 1432 Indul Fitri festivities with their relatives in their home towns," the PAN Chairman said after bidding a farewell to them here on Tuesday.          The 5,000 travelers were grouped in the "Going Home Towns for Free with PAN" program which was organized in connection with the observance of the 13th birthday of PAN on August 23, 2011.          Leaving for Java and Sumatra, the travelers were seen off by Hatta at the East Parking Lot of Senayan Sports Complex. Most of the participants in the PAN's "Mudik Gratis Bareng PAN" (going home for free with PAN) program were daily laborers, workers in the informal sector as well as workers or employees at small businesses.          The departure of 5,000 travelers on Tuesday just marked the beginning of this week's Idul Fitri exodus.          At Gambir Railway Station in Central Jakarta, Lebaran travelers were already seen on Tuesday, though their flow was still normal. The number of passengers leaving Jakarta on the D-Day minus 8 at the railway station totaled 12,900, up from 11,014 on the same day last year.          "The number of passengers will surge significantly three days before the Idul Fitri or Lebaran D-Day," Head of Gambir Railway Station Edy Kuswoyo said.          Edy said that in order to ease passenger congestion, the Indonesian Railway company (PT KAI) will add five more trains to be operated as August 25, 2011.  The additional trains are expected to transport 5,000 to 6,000 additional passengers, he said.          He said that the flow of passengers at the Gambir Railway Stations on Monday and Tuesday (D-day minus 10 and minus 8) was still normal.          In the meantime, harbor authorities at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta also predicted a surge in the flow passengers. Thus, they will tighten security in anticipation of crimes during the flow of Idul Fitri travelers.          Manager of Tanjung Priok Port's Passenger Terminal, Suswibowo, said here on Tuesday that his side had coordinated with security agencies to protect post-fasting Lebaran travelers from crimes at the port. "We will tighten security in the face of Lebaran travelers. Yet we have not maximized the pacification program, because usually, passenger flow peaks on the seven days before the D-Day," he said.          While deploying hundreds of security personnel, the port authorities will also provide security means and facilities such as 70 CCTVs, 4 patrol cars, 8 mirror detectors, 4 metal detectors and 4 fire trucks.          In the northern Java highways, busy traffic of Lebran travelers was already seen on Tuesday with motorcycles and private cars, including intercity and inter-province bus caravans from Jakarta to Cirebon and Central Java lining up several highway sections.          Idul Fitri travelers were also seen on Tuesday at Merak ferry port in the western tip of Java which is linked with Bakauheni port in the eastern part of Sumatra. Merak port's group commandant Fathur said that Idul Fitri passengers who wanted to cross to Sumatra from Java were already seen.          "The number of travelers is still normal, no surge was observed today," Fathur said.          In the meantime, Bali Regional Police Chief Insp. Gen Totoy Irawan inspected  Gilimanuk port which linked Bali Island with Java through Ketapang ferry port in Banyuwangi, East Java.          Totoy was briefed at a Lebaran post command with Gilimanuk Police Precinct Chief Adj. Commissioner Eko Kurniawan that  Gilimanuk port was ready to serve passengers. Many of police personnel will be deployed at the port gate. "In previous years, vehicles accumulated at the port gate," Eko said.           From Gilimanuk, the Bali police chief continued his trip on a ferry to Kepang port in Banyuwangi, East Java. On Tuesday, Idul Fitri travelers in Ketapang were still quiet. Yet, police and officials of the relevant agencies continued to make preparations.           Travelers from Kalimantan who want to cross to Java meanwhile will be transported by navy warships if regular ships are overwhelmed with the surge of passengers.   In this case, two navy warships have been made ready at Sampit port in Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, to anticipate a sharp hike in transport demand ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday.          The port administrator, Edi Sumarsono, said here on Tuesday the two navy warships - the  KRI Teluk Sampit and KRI Teluk Mandar - would be operated in case of an emergency, namely when the available civilian ships could not accommodate all passengers.          The peak of departures from the port is expected to occur four days and one day after the Idul Fitri which falls on August 29.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/20:30/B003) 23-08-2011 21:35:1