Gov’t Prepares Strategy for Dealing with Mass Homecoming for Christmas, New Year Celebrations

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) gives a press statement to the media crew, after attending a limited meeting led by President Prabowo Subianto regarding preparations for public celebrations of Christmas and New Year, at the Presidential Palace compound in Jakarta, Monday (12/16)

President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his staff to focus on the issues related to the smoothness, safety, and security of the upcoming public celebrations of Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025. Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) said that the Government has identified various potential challenges, including an increase in public mobility. It is estimated that around 110 million people will take part in the mass homecoming ahead the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.

“President Prabowo has stated and emphasized to all of us that all ministries and stakeholders who are responsible for the smoothness, safety, and security of Christmas and New Year celebrations must ensure that our fellow citizens who celebrate Christmas can worship peacefully and feel safe and comfortable,” said AHY to the media crew at the Presidential Palace compound in Jakarta, after attending a limited meeting led by President Prabowo Subianto regarding preparations for public celebrations of Christmas and New Year, Monday (12/16).

According to the report of the Indonesian National Police Chief, the Indonesian National Police together with the Indonesian National Defense Forces have prepared personnel to secure places of worship, travel routes, and other vulnerable spots. In addition, various supporting facilities, ranging from airports, docks, stations, to terminals, have also been prepared to accommodate the surge in travel.

“So, there are 1,830 km long toll roads in Java [island] that are operational. Then there are 90 rest and service areas in total and 422 toll gates that have been prepared to be operational,” said AHY.

In the trade sector, the availability of basic necessities and price stability also become the Government’s priorities. The Government also ensures the steady supplies of fuel oil and electricity.

“The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources has explained that in general his ministry is ready and of course will continually anticipate any incidents that might happen related to the availability of fuel and electricity so that when the demand for those commodities grows high, everything is under control,” said AHY.

To anticipate congestion, the Government has prepared monitoring posts at various vulnerable spots. Traffic engineering on dense roads such as Jakarta-Cikampek road is also applied, including the addition of one more lane to the multiple-lane roads.

“We will continually monitor all of these steps through the command centers or posts that are set up at various vulnerable points in which the traffic needs to be strictly controlled,” said AHY.

With these steps, the Government hopes that the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year holidays can run smoothly, provide a sense of security for the public, and encourage economic activities in various regions. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information (BPMI) of the Presidential Secretariat/ABD)