Cirebon. Despite the potential for accidents, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has defended the continued use of contraflow and one-way schemes on toll roads to ensure smooth traffic flow during the Eid homecoming and return period in 2024.

An accident occurred earlier on the contraflow lane of the Cikampek Toll Road at Kilometer 58, resulting in the deaths of 12 passengers in a Daihatsu Granmax minibus that collided with a Primajasa bus.

"We still see the necessity of contraflow and one-way schemes," said Budi during a press conference at Cirebon Station, West Java, on Tuesday.

He stressed the importance of these schemes in facilitating smooth travel on toll roads and preventing traffic congestion.

The Transportation Ministry predicts that 193.6 million individuals, about 71.7 percent of the country's population, will participate in the Eid exodus this year, representing a significant 50 percent increase from last year.

Budi assured that relevant authorities, including the police, have made thorough preparations to ensure the safe passage of travelers before implementing the schemes.

With these measures in place, Budi said traffic conditions, particularly on crucial routes like the Cikopo-Palimanan Toll Road (Cipali), remain manageable during this year's homecoming traffic.

The government, in collaboration with the Indonesian Traffic Corps, is actively preparing mitigation measures to prevent traffic accidents, such as the incident at KM 58 of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Yusri Yunus, Director of Registration and Identification at the Indonesian Traffic Corps (Korlantas Polri), outlined specific requirements for implementing traffic engineering on toll roads, including contraflow.

Yusri explained that contraflow in one lane requires approximately 4,400 vehicles passing per hour. If the volume increases, additional lanes are opened accordingly.

Given that toll roads, especially the Trans-Java Toll Road, are popular routes for travelers returning to their hometowns, the Indonesian Traffic Corps (Korlantas Polri) is devising strategies to reduce accidents.