Gov’t Ready to Implement Transportation Control to Support ‘Mudik’ Ban Policy

INDUSTRY.co.id - Ministry of Transportation is poised to implement transportation control to support the Government’s policy to ban mudik (annual exodus during Eid al-Fitr period), according to the Ministry’s spokesperson Adita Irawati.

The transportation control during mudik period is stipulated in Regulation of Minister of Transportation (Permenhub) Number 13 of 2021 on Transportation Control during the 1442 Hijri Eid al-Fitr period to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19.

“In line with the statement of President Joko Widodo, the mudik ban policy is made due to lessons learned from a series of long holidays in 2020 and 2021 which resulted in a spike in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia. In addition, we must be aware of the spike in cases in other countries after the cases had previously flattened. We follow up Circular of COVID-19 Task Force Number 13 of 2021 (on the mudik ban) by controlling transportation pre, during, and post 2021 mudik ban period,” Adita said on Friday (23/04).

In the pre and post mudik ban period, Ministry of Transportation has added the requirements for domestic travelers, which comes into force from 22 April to 5 May and from 18 May to 24 May 2021.

As stipulated by the Task Force, the tightening of travel requirements is aimed at anticipating an increase in the people’s mobility and preventing inter-regional transmission cases in the pre and post mudik ban period.

Travelers using air, sea, and train transport are required to show a certificate with negative RT–PCR/antigen rapid test result or a negative GeNose C19 test result. The test should be taken not more than 1×24 hours before departure at airports, seaports, and train stations.

In the meantime, land travelers using public transport and private vehicles are advised to take COVID-19 tests. The random COVID-19 tests will be implemented at bus stations, rest areas, or several designated areas.

The provisions regarding transportation control during the mudik ban period (6-17 May 2021) are also stipulated in Regulation of Minister of Transportation Number 13 of 2021.

The provisions regulate the following matters:

The transportation control is carried out by prohibiting the operation of transportation facilities for mudik purposes.

Transportation facilities may still operate for the following purposes: Logistics distribution and freight transport; Travelers with urgent needs, including business travel, having an ill family member, death of a family member, being pregnant (accompanied by one family member), childbirth (accompanied by a maximum of two people).

For other purposes, the travelers must have a statement letter from the village head/sub-district head; and Transportation facilities in agglomeration/urban areas.

The control in land transport will involve the Traffic Corps of the Indonesian National Police (Korlantas Polri) and the local Transportation Services at more than 300 designated points.

The control in other transportation modes will be carried out by transportation authorities, infrastructure operators, the COVID-19 Task Force, the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and regional governments.

Ministry of Transportation also continues to remind the public to always maintain self-discipline in following health protocols.