Minister Ensuring Smooth Flow at Bakauheni Port During Eid Return Trip

TheIndonesia.co - Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has ensured the smooth operations at Bakauheni Port in Lampung during this year’s Eid al-Fitr return flow.

"I am here to confirm that all preparations at Bakauheni Port are in place," he said on Tuesday, after reviewing the readiness for the Eid return trip at the port, according to Antara News Agency.

His visit on Monday was aimed at evaluating the preparations for the return flow, including the port management, delay systems, and flow arrangements.

Additional measures, such as clustering, delay systems, and buffer zones, were introduced ahead of the return flow during Eid. Parking zones with delay systems have been set up to minimize waiting times for passengers at the port.

"We have implemented all necessary technical measures to ensure smooth service for the public," Purwagandhi stated.

He also assured that there are enough ships and facilities to accommodate travelers returning home.

"We have 67 ships, 40 of which are dedicated to Eid transportation. We will operate three ports in Lampung: Wika Beton, Bandar Bakau Jaya, and Bakauheni," he added.

Data from PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry shows that 225,400 vehicles crossed from Java to Sumatra between March 21-31, 2025, covering the period from D-10 to D-Day of Eid.

This figure is a slight decrease of 0.1 percent compared to the 225,637 vehicles during the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, passenger numbers rose by three percent, reaching 885,828 this year, compared to 859,521 in 2024.

Purwagandhi expressed confidence that the return flow from Bakauheni Port to Merak Port would run as smoothly as the outbound trip from Merak Port to Bakauheni.

He also pointed out that Merak Port had effectively managed the homecoming flow, ensuring smooth transportation and crossings.

The return flow is expected to peak on D+5, or April 6, 2025, with an estimated 31.49 million travelers on that day.

A survey conducted in collaboration with Litbang Kompas indicated that 146.48 million people, or 52 percent of Indonesia’s population, are expected to travel during this year’s Eid holiday period.