The South Sumatra Light Railway (South Sumatra LRT) recorded a significant increase in passenger numbers during the annual Perahu Bidar event in Palembang. Based on official data from the South Sumatra LRT Management Centre. LRT passenger numbers during the event, which began on 31 August, increased by 17 percent compared to the previous year. During the 2024 Bidar event, 34.520 people were recorded using the LRT, compared to 29.396 passengers during the same period in 2023.

The Perahu Bidar event, which always attracts thousands of locals and tourists, is one of the main factors behind the increase in LRT passengers. People use this mode of transport to avoid road congestion and to reach the event sites along the Musi River more quickly and conveniently.

The increase in South Sumatra's LRT ridership this year is inextricably linked to the South Sumatra Light Railway Management Centre's (BPKARSS) initiative to free up LRT services during the event. This policy was enthusiastically welcomed by the people of Palembang and surrounding areas, who used the free service to support their mobility to the event. We saw a very significant increase in the number of passengers during this year's Perahu Bidar event, which is proof that people are increasingly confident and comfortable using the LRT as their main mode of transport. The free policy is indeed one of the main drivers,' said BPKARSS head Rode Paulus.

In addition to the free service, another factor influencing this increase is the growing recognition of the South Sumatra LRT as a clean, efficient, and environmentally friendly mode of transport. In recent years, South Sumatra LRT has continued to improve its facilities and services so that more and more people are choosing this mode of transport for their activities, including during major events such as Perahu Bidar.

The increased occupancy of the South Sumatra LRT during the Perahu Bidar event not only has an impact on smooth transport but also supports the tourism sector and the local economy. The event, which attracts thousands of visitors from across the region, is made more accessible by the LRT, helping to reduce traffic congestion in Palembang's city centre, which is usually jammed during the event.

In addition, tourists from outside the city who come to watch the boat race also benefit from the convenient and fast transport provided by the LRT. Some of them chose the LRT as their main mode of transport during their stay in Palembang, introducing them to the city's modern transport infrastructure.

The LRT was extremely helpful to us, providing free service during the event. Our journey to the venue is easier, faster, and free from traffic jams,' said M. Yusuf, a traveler from Lampung.

With this significant increase in passenger numbers, South Sumatra LRT is increasingly optimistic about the future of public transport in Palembang. The South Sumatra LRT Management Centre hopes that this positive trend will continue, not only during major events such as Perahu Bidar but also in people's daily activities.