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Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi (center), delivers a statement after presiding over a coordination meeting on traffic movement and peak traffic anticipation on toll roads during the 2022 Eid exodus, at Jasa Marga Office in Main Cikampek Toll Gate, West Java, on Friday (April 15, 2022). (ANTARA/Adimas Raditya) - 

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has advised travelers to travel early during the Eid al-Fitr exodus period to avoid heavy traffic.

"We suggest residents travel early (during the Eid exodus period). They can commence their travel on April 25 or 26 (2022),” Sumadi said after presiding over a coordination meeting on traffic movement and peak traffic anticipation on toll roads during the 2022 Eid exodus period, at the Main Cikampek Toll Gate, West Java, on Friday.

The government has allowed civil state apparatus and employees of private entities to use their annual leave to extend their homecoming period, before or after the designated collective leave and holidays, he said.

The minister pointed out that the Joint Ministerial Decision has designated April 29 and May 4, 5, and 6, 2022, as collective leave days to complement the Eid al-Fitr holiday on April 2 and 3.

"We know that residents have not returned to their hometown for two years, and they are yearning to travel so much. Therefore, we are committed to providing appropriate services for them (during the exodus period)," Sumadi remarked.

He affirmed the ministry's commitment to coordinating and collaborating with the relevant stakeholders, including the police and state-owned toll road operator Jasa Marga, to manage traffic on toll roads.

Some traffic modifications that will be implemented during the 2022 Eid al-Fitr holiday period are one-way, contraflow, and odd-even plate number restriction schemes, he informed.

"We will seek the best measure to ensure a safe, comfortable, and health homecoming travel," Sumadi said.

Meanwhile, the Police's Traffic Corps head, Inspector General Firman Santyabudi, said that the police are ready to coordinate and monitor traffic conditions before the Eid al-Fitr exodus period.

"On-site officers will follow all instructions that would depend on actual conditions," he added.

Santyabudi also said that the police has the latest data on traffic conditions and volumes to prevent possible losses due to traffic management miscalculation.

"(The data is to help) officers decide their activities properly. We will keep coordinating (with all stakeholders)," the traffic corps head remarked//ANT