Indonesia’s Secretary of State, Prasetyo Hadi, has extended a heartfelt apology to the public following severe congestion experienced by travelers at the crucial ferry crossings of Gilimanuk Port and Ketapang Port. He affirmed that the government is continuously evaluating and implementing measures to ensure the smooth flow of the annual homecoming exodus.
“Indeed, there were several incidents, for which we apologize, involving significant congestion due to the extraordinarily high traffic at the Ketapang and Gilimanuk crossings,” Prasetyo stated at the Ministry of Defense in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, March 17.
Prasetyo emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to intensive monitoring and the deployment of personnel dedicated to alleviating the heavy traffic at these critical points. Authorities are working diligently to manage the influx of travelers and prevent further bottlenecks.
“We are fully committed to continuous monitoring, and our officers on the ground are working tirelessly to find effective solutions that can reduce traffic jams and long queues,” he added, highlighting the efforts to enhance the travel experience for millions.
Furthermore, the Secretary of State expressed his profound appreciation to the public for their thoughtful utilization of the homecoming holiday period. This proactive approach helped distribute the movement of travelers, preventing a concentrated surge on a single day and mitigating potential gridlock.
“We also extend our gratitude to all members of the community who have utilized this extended holiday period by choosing to return to their hometowns as we had hoped, thereby avoiding excessive accumulation on any specific day,” he remarked, acknowledging the public’s cooperation.
Prasetyo further extended his appreciation to all stakeholders involved in ensuring the safety and fluidity of the Eid al-Fitr exodus. This includes a broad spectrum of entities, ranging from law enforcement agencies to various ministries and state-owned enterprises actively participating in the operation.
“Additionally, we naturally convey our thanks to all personnel on duty in the field, including the Police, the Ministry of Transportation, and their collaboration with various State-Owned Enterprises such as Pelindo, ASDP, and others who have worked exceptionally hard,” he underscored, recognizing their collective dedication.
During the last three days of the Eid al-Fitr 2026 homecoming period, conditions at Gilimanuk Port in Bali were reported to be extremely congested, experiencing extensive traffic jams. This port emerged as one of the most critical bottlenecks for travelers making their way from Bali to Java.
On Monday, March 16, vehicle queues stretching towards the port were reported to be approximately 19 kilometers long from the Denpasar direction and about 5 kilometers from the Singaraja direction, painting a stark picture of the travel challenges.
At the peak of the congestion, queues reached an staggering length of approximately 30 kilometers on the routes leading to the port. Reports indicated that numerous travelers endured waits of over 9 hours simply to cross to Java Island, highlighting the severity of the travel delays.