Jakarta (25/04) - The Directorate General of Railways provided the latest information regarding the development of the Lebaran Transportation program and the Free Motorcycle Program at the Media Gathering event "Mudik Aman dan Mudik Sehat” (“Safe Homecoming and Healthy Homecoming") at the Melanglang Cafe of the Ministry of Transportation. The activity was attended by the Director General of Railways, Zulfikri accompanied by the Secretary of the Directorate General of Railways, Zulmafendi, and the Director of Railway Traffic and Transportation, Mohamad Risal Wasal.

"The euphoria for this year's homecoming is quite extraordinary in line with the concessions provided by the Government, but it must be realized that this year's homecoming is still in a pandemic period, so we must continue to maintain health protocols so that there will not be another spike in cases after the homecoming activity takes place," said Zulfikri in his remarks.

The Directorate General of Railways has planned to implement Lebaran Transportation and Free Motorcycle Transportation this time. In terms of health, DJKA has issued Circular 39, which refers to the Circular of the Covid-19 Task Force to ensure that passengers who go home are healthy people. In terms of capacity, DJKA has also prepared facilities and HR officers to be able to accommodate requests for homecoming. The potential for movement is relatively high, especially with the enactment of joint leave.

As the main factor in implementing the 2022 Lebaran Transport, in terms of safety, DJKA has carried out a ramp check since March 15, 2022. Even now, it is 90% to ensure the facilities and infrastructure used during this homecoming program. Regarding the density of level crossings during this homecoming, Zulfikri revealed that DJKA had made circulars for relevant stakeholders such as the Regional Government and even DJKA itself, namely the Railway Engineering Center, to jointly maintain and ensure the readiness of officers at every level crossings.

In his presentation, the Director of Railway Traffic and Transportation, Mohamad Risal Wasal, conveyed the predictions of passengers who will go to hometown this year according to data from the Research and Development Agency (Balitbang) of the Ministry of Transportation, as many as 85 million people with potential passengers who will go home by train mode. As many as 7.6 million, an increase of 11% from the number of passengers in the previous homecoming program.

"Supporting the readiness of the Lebaran Transport program this time, we have ensured the readiness of facilities, routes, bridges, operating facilities, and human resources so that this program can run smoothly and in accordance with this year's homecoming tagline, namely Safe Homecoming, and Healthy Homecoming."

Risal Wasal said that this year travellers from various modes could participate in the Free Motorbike program by showing their homecoming tickets using buses, travel, and other modes. "We are trying to improve safety and reduce travellers with motorbikes," he said.

This year's target of the Free Motorcycle program is 9,240 motorcycles by passing two routes, north and south, with the final destination of Purwosari Station. Data obtained this afternoon, homecomers who registered for the northern route were 654 motorcycles and 1,613 motorbikes for the southern route, 24% of which had met the prepared  target. In line with the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the Minister of Transportation, the public is advised to go home early and not to pile up on April 28 to 30, 2022. "The data we have obtained today shows that the current capacity at Gambir Station is still 30%, and Senen Station is still 80%. " he continued.

"We hope that the media can convey to the public to be able to take advantage of this program as much as possible, because this program helps people to go home with free motorbike transportation, just by showing a homecoming ticket with any mode so that it can reduce the rate of homecomers by motorbike," Zulfikri said closing the activity. (RVP)