The Nataru holiday or Christmas and New Year holidays in Indonesia are marked by the presence of private cars on various roads. This is an opportunity for families who use their own vehicle as a travel option. One of the famous routes on the island of Java is the North Coast Route or Pantura Route.
Quoted from the Antara news agency, the security carried out by the Traffic Police Unit to welcome the Christmas Holidays is Operation Candle 2023. In East Java it is being implemented as Operation Candle Semeru 2023.
East Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General Pol. Imam Sugianto revealed that entering the 2023 Semeru Candle Operation, the East Java Regional Police were preparing patrols to prepare for Christmas security and at the same time the readiness of the Pantura Route for the 2024 New Year holidays.
“We know that from the results of data collection and research from the Ministry of Transportation, out of 17 percent ( “Increased) movement of people traveling on the island of Java, the majority of 16 percent are in East Java,” explained Inspector General Imam Sugianto.
East Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General Imam Sugianto using a big motorbike arrives at Ketapang Banyuwangi Harbor as part of a long patrol in preparation for the 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year holidays [ANTARA/Novi Husdinariyanto] He stated that there are a total of community members who will move or travel in East Java around 16 million people or humans.
“Therefore, we are also anticipating the crossing port from Ketapang (Banyuwangi) to Gilimanuk (Bali),” he added.
Furthermore, the East Java Regional Police Chief also ensured that the Surabaya-Banyuwangi coastal route was ready to pass. The way to do this is through long patrols using big motorbikes (moge) for around 300 km from Surabaya to Banyuwangi to check the condition of the Pantura highway in East Java, which is ready to pass in the Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 holiday seasons.
“We ensure that the bridge is repaired (in “The north coast route of Wongsorejo District, Banyuwangi) which was previously thought to be completed within a year, turns out to be passable and smooth today. Earlier we passed the road smoothly (no traffic jams),” explained Inspector General Pol Imam Sugianto after inspecting the Integrated Command Post for Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 in Ketapang. Banyuwangi, East Java, Monday (18/12/2023).
He added that the traffic flow on the Pantura route in Wongsorejo District, Banyuwangi Regency, has been disrupted for the last few months and there have even been long traffic jams, because there are four bridges in repair condition.
However, part of the Pantura Route is now starting to be traversed and traffic is flowing smoothly after work on the rehabilitation of four bridges in the area was completed at the beginning of this week,
“So we passed the Pantura highway (Wongsorejo, Banyuwangi) everything was smooth, all we had to do was tidy up the fence “Hopefully before Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 it will be finished and can be used by the community,” he added.
He also stated that the peak of driving trips in East Java is estimated to occur approximately three days before the religious commemoration of Christmas 2023.
“Explanation from the General Manager of PT ASDP Ketapang Branch, the peak movement of people traveling is expected to be on December 22 2023 (three days before Christmas ) and December 29 (three days before the turn of the year 2023-2024) to January 2 2024,” explained Inspector General Pol Imam Sugianto.
For those who drive cars during the Christmas Holiday towards East Java, note this information and it is best to avoid the peak movement of the Christmas Holiday.
