Jakarta. Homecoming trips would start to peak four days before Eid al-Fitr, which falls on April 10, according to the government estimate.

Every Eid holiday, Indonesians usually return back to their hometowns to see their families and loved ones. According to the Transport Ministry, as many as 193.6 million people are expected to travel this year. This is equivalent to 71.7 percent of the country’s total population. The Eid exodus is about 50 percent higher than that of last year.

“So [the homecoming travel] will likely begin four days before Eid. We will see [people’s mobility] skyrocketing on those days,” Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi told reporters in Jakarta on Monday.

People are advised to travel at a much earlier date to avoid traffic. They should also avoid using motorcycles, according to Budi. Government agencies, including state-owned enterprises and the armed forces, are providing free rides on buses and ships, among others.

“So it’d be better to use the government’s free services,” Budi said.

The national police has also readied what it calls the “Ketupat Operation” in which it deploys its personnel to make sure people can travel safely. This operation will run from April 4-16.  The police have also identified areas that are prone to traffic accidents.

“This is important. Statistically, the traffic accident rate is expected to decline [last year] versus 2022. But because the homecoming travel will rise this year, we hopefully can keep it under control this year,” National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said.