Jakarta, July 12 (Antara) - The government is prepared to provide
services for some 24 million people seeking to return to their home
towns (mudik) to celebrate 'Lebaran', or the Islamic post-fasting
holidays, at the end of this month.
Further, the Ministry of Transportation will provide at least 1,200
ships and increase the frequencies of trains, along with offering
additional flights, to serve the post-fasting Idul Fitri holiday
revelers.
"In general, all transport operators are ready to provide services to
people keen on returning to their native villages for Lebaran, this
year," Director General of Land Transportation at the Ministry of
Transportation, Suroyo Alimoeso, said.
It is predicted that during this year's Idul Fitri holidays, the number
of home-bound travelers, excluding those traveling in their own
vehicles, will increase by about 3.83 percent to 19.30 million from
2013, which saw 18.59 million travelers.
The 19.30 million travelers excluded those using their own private vehicles, predicted to reach 4.16 million.
According to the director general, 5.59 million passengers were
expected to use land transportation services, including 4.49 million who
will use trains, 4.10 million will use airplanes, 3.54 million will opt
for inland waterway transportation (ASDP) services, and 1.57 million
will travel by ships.
Private car travelers are forecast to reach 1.79 million this year, up
5.61 percent from 1.69 million last year, while the number of people
riding on motorcycles is expected to reach 2.37 million, up 4.3 percent
from 2.27 million last year.
Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation Evert Erenst Mangindaan predicted
traffic for travelers during the annual Idul Fitri exodus will peak
during the three days before D-Day and a day after, while the return
traffic will be at its highest on the fourth and fifth day after the
Idul Fitri holidays.
The current fasting month is expected to end on July 27 and the Lebaran
or Idul Fitri holidays will fall on July 28 and 29, 2014.
Director General Suroyo Alimoeso said that the peak of homebound land
and sea passengers is expected on D-Day minus 3, and returning
passengers on D-Day plus 5. The peak of homebound train and aircraft
passengers, meanwhile, is expected on D-Day minus 2 to D-Day minus 1 and
returning passengers at D-Day plus 4 to D-Day plus 5.
Suroyo added that the peak flow of Lebaran passengers will be seen in
12 provinces and 43 land transportation terminals.
ASDP services will be found along eight main routes, which will be
served by 52 seaports, 32 airports, and railway service in nine
operational areas in Java and three regional divisions in Sumatra.
Transportation Deputy Minister Bambang Susantono said on Thursday last
week that the government will deploy at least 1,200 ships to cater to
mudik travelers, who will arrive home by sea.
He pointed out that the capacity of the ships was already adequate, but
on certain days during the peak season that capacity could become
inadequate. "We have also checked the preparedness of seaports, which
will be used by the mudik travelers," he said.
Bambang added that all seaports that will be used by travelers had begun preparations.
Also, the government has assured the public that fares will not be
increased, but will be the same as last year. This will be valid across
the country.
In the meantime, state-owned national shipping lines PT Pelni has
expressed its readiness to serve 'mudik' makers this year. In providing
service, PT Pelin will coordinate with a variety of parties.
"We are preparing 25 passenger ships, with a total seat capacity of
45,077 passengers," said PT Pelni President Director Sulistyo Wimbo
Hardjito on Wednesday (July 2, 2014).
He noted that all ship fleets would be put on a stand-by position
during the July 13 - August 13, 2014 period. He predicted that 729,520
passengers will use PT Pelni services.
The ministry of transportation has also offered a free 'mudik' ride for
motorcyclists who want to return home by sea. Passenger registration
for the free ride program was open from July 1 to July 16, 2014.
"Registration commences on July 1 up until 16, 2014 and would-be
passengers are expected to register with complete required documents,"
Head of the Ministry of Transportation's Public Communication Center, JA
Barata, said.
He added that the ships will have a capacity of transporting some
12,000 motorcycles for departure and returning travelers. Each family
using a motorcycle that travels by sea using the free ride program will
receive three round trip tickets for the husband, wife and a child under
12 years old, or for two adults and one child passengers.
PT
Pelni has coordinated with state-owned port operator PT Pelindo so that
services at passenger terminals would be increased.
Deputy
Transportation Minister Bambang Susantono even predicted that this
year's Idul Fitri revelers could reach 30 million. Besides ships and
ferries prepared for travelers by sea or inland waterways, the
government is also preparing trains.
At least 32 additional trains will be made ready to assist the regular trains during the Idul Fitri exodus.
"We have to mobilize all modes of transportation to serve some 30
million travelers. For this purposes, at least 32 additional trains with
adequate coaches will be prepared," Bambang said.
According to Transportation Minister Mangindaan, train passengers are
predicted to rise 3.1 percent to 4.49 million, while the number of air
travelers is expected to rise 11.48 percent to 4.1 million passengers.
With regard to those traveling by air, the Transportation Ministry's
Air Transportation Director Djoko Murdjatmodjo earlier stated that five
airlines had proposed additional flights to anticipate the increase in
passenger traffic during the 2014 Idul Fitri exodus.
Those airlines include Sriwijaya Air, Nam Air, Lion Air, Indonesia Air Asia, and Garuda Indonesia.
Sixteen additional flights will be made available for 16 days, or seven days before and after the D-Day.
"A total of 903 flights will be made available during the 16 days," Djoko added.
Returning home for reunions with family members, relatives, or old
friends in native villages on the occasion of the post-fasting holiday
of Lebaran has been a tradition followed by a majority of the Indonesian
people.***3***
(T.A014/INE/B003) 12-07-2014 21:17:0 |
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