JAKARTA: As millions prepare to return to their hometowns for Aidilfitri, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has deployed a warship to transport passengers and their motorcycles in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and curb the annual rise in road accidents.
The KRI Banjarmasin-592 set sail on Thursday, carrying 1,634 passengers – including navy personnel, their families, and civilians – along with 497 motorcycles on a journey from Jakarta to Semarang and Surabaya.
This initiative, led by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dr. Muhammad Ali, offers a safer and more comfortable alternative to the typically long and risky road journeys taken by Indonesians during festive seasons.
According to a statement from TNI AL, the program was launched at the Naval Command Yard in North Jakarta, where families gathered and loaded their motorcycles onto the warship.
“The public response has been extraordinary. This year, all spots were booked within just two days of registration opening,” said Muhammad, highlighting the growing demand for safer travel options.
For the return journey, the warship will carry 1,264 passengers and 328 motorcycles, departing from Surabaya on April 6, making a stop in Semarang, and arriving in Jakarta on April 7.
During the voyage, passengers will be served meals, treated to live music performances, and shown movies – a vastly different experience compared to the road trips often plagued by heavy traffic during the festive season.
In addition to the warship service, the Indonesian Navy has also deployed 100 buses to transport personnel and their families, with departures from various military bases around Jakarta.
TNI AL stated that this effort is part of the government’s broader initiative to ensure safer and smoother travel during Aidilfitri, as Indonesia braces for one of the largest annual human migrations in the world.
— BERNAMA
