Indonesia Braces for Peak Mudik Traffic on March 18, National One-Way System to be Implemented
Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian authorities are preparing for the anticipated peak of the mudik (homecoming) travel period on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, as millions of Indonesians start their journeys to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with family. A national one-way traffic system will be implemented to manage the surge in vehicles, particularly along the Trans Java line.
Peak Traffic Expected on March 18
Head of the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps (Kakorlantas), Irjen Pol Agus Suryonugroho, announced the prediction of the peak flow in a press conference on Monday, March 16, 2026 according to Republika. He further stated that the one-way system will be initiated at 10:00 AM on March 18 as reported by DetikNews.
Traffic Management Measures
As of March 16, approximately 28 percent of vehicles had already departed Jakarta, heading east and west according to Kakorlantas. Authorities estimate that around 3.5 million vehicles will be leaving Jakarta towards the Trans Java line, including those heading to Cikupa, Banten, and onward to Sumatra via ferry crossings.
The national one-way system will initially extend to Pejagan, Central Java. Central Java will then implement a local one-way system from kilometer 414 to Ungaran. Authorities are also prepared to implement contraflow measures on several sections of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road to alleviate congestion as detailed by DetikNews.
Focus on Safety and Smooth Travel
The Indonesian National Police are prioritizing safety and ensuring a smooth travel experience for mudik travelers. The 2026 Eid homecoming operation is guided by the tagline “Safe Homecoming, Happy Family,” as emphasized by Chief of the National Police Traffic Corps Agus Suryonugroho according to the Indonesian Police Public Information page and as reported by Antara News.
Operation Ketupat 2026 will focus on five main clusters to ensure security and facilitate the flow of traffic. Authorities are utilizing data-based measures to anticipate congestion on key routes, including the Trans-Java Toll Road, the northern Java coast (Pantura), and Merak-Bakauheni ferry crossings as stated by Antara News.