Authorities Braced for Second Wave of ‘Mudik’ Return Traffic

The government expected return traffic to peak between Monday evening (24/4/2023) and Wednesday morning (26/4/2023).

FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Thousands of cars line up to make payments at the Cikampek 2 Toll Gate, Karawang, West Java, Tuesday (25/4/2023). The peak of return trips is expected to be distributed in the next few days until 1 May 2023, with an increase occurring on 26-29 April 2023.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Authorities are braced for a second wave of mudik (exodus) return traffic, which is expected to peak on Sunday (30/4/2023) and Monday (1/5/2023) and is projected to be more hectic than the first wave of return traffic on 24 and 25 April. The government has instructed transportation operators to anticipate a surge in traffic density.

The second wave of mudik return traffic is imminent following President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s appeal to state institutions and private companies to give employees extended leave or leeway from work to travel to their hometowns over Idul Fitri. The recommendation for an extended holiday was intended to ease the density of return traffic.