REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi has estimated the flow of the 2019 and New Year Christmas holiday travelers to peak on Saturday. The minister also noted that the return flow of the Christmas and New Year travelers will peak on January 1 or 2, 2019.
"I checked at several places, especially the train station, and there was an around 20 percent surge in the number of passengers," the minister of transportation remarked after attending a limited meeting on the Christmas and New Year preparations on Friday.
According to the minister, the number of train passengers on normal days through the Pasar Senen Train Station reached as many as 14 thousand. On Friday, the number of passengers through the station increased to 24 thousand and as many as 28 thousand people are estimated on Saturday, Dec 22.
In addition, the government has estimated that the number of toll road users on Java will increase by 15 percent.
"Where Jakarta-Surabaya is connected, there will be a more than 15 percent increase in the number of travelers," Sumadi added.
Sumadi, who is a former managing director of airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, appealed to drivers intending to pass through the Trans-Java toll road to control the vehicle speed.
"The important aspect is speed control. A speed of 90 kilometers per hour will not be felt, as the road is good and straight. The second aspect apart from speed control is preparing oneself well and to prepare the vehicle," Sumadi noted.
To facilitate the flow of traffic on toll roads, the government also plans to temporarily stop the construction of the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road on December 24, 2018, until January 2, 2019. In addition, the operation of large trucks will also be temporarily suspended on certain days, except for trucks carrying basic materials and fuel oil.
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