Based on the information released by toll road operator Jasa Marga, more than half the estimated 1.6 million vehicles had yet to return to Greater Jakarta as of Thursday at 8 a.m.

The annual Idul Fitri holiday mudik (exodus) will peak between Wednesday (19/4/2023) to Thursday. As of Wednesday 11 p.m., mobility has reached only 50 percent.

People’s enthusiasm about going home for Idul Fitri holiday, locally known as Lebaran, needs to be anticipated with increased services from all related stakeholders for the sake of travelers’ comfortable and safe trips.

Traffic management for mudik travel and mudik return travel during Lebaran this year has been deemed an improvement. However, the government is also encouraged to manage future mudik traffic more comprehensively.

The Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) tradition has led to an increase in COVID-19 cases in destination provinces.  Similar incidents after long holidays need to be anticipated in the future.

Indonesia’s low vaccination coverage, even below the world average of 5 percent, has not succeeded in reducing the fatality rate (CFR) of COVID-19. The rate is still too small to provide any tangible benefits.

Despite the travel ban, many people are still trying to go on mudik using a number of tricks in order to escape the police’s checkpoints.

The travel restriction period had been extended because many people planned to go on mudik (exodus) before the initial restriction took effect.