Malang is experiencing a notable surge in vehicle volume as travelers head to the city for the Eid al-Fitr holidays. On H-2 of Eid, which was Wednesday, March 18th, an increase in traffic flow ranging from 3 to 10 percent was recorded across four key toll gates within the Malang Regency and Malang City areas.
Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Guntur, the General Manager of Operations for Jasa Marga Pandaan Malang (JPM), provided insights into this heightened activity. He reported that a total of 92,866 vehicles had entered Malang, while 87,383 vehicles had exited the region via the four toll gates: Lawang, Singosari, Pakis, and Malang. Specifically, the Pakis toll gate saw 25,113 vehicles entering Malang by Wednesday evening, March 18th.
“This volume represents a 7.58 percent increase from the average daily traffic of 23,343 vehicles,” Reza Pahlevi Guntur stated on Thursday, March 19th, highlighting the significant uptick in inbound travel.
Similarly, outbound traffic at the Pakis toll gate also experienced a rise, with 23,015 vehicles departing Malang, marking a 6.20 percent increase compared to the usual daily volume of 21,672 vehicles. Further north, the Lawang toll gate in Malang Regency recorded 22,700 vehicles entering Malang, underscoring the widespread nature of the holiday travel rush.
“This figure indicates a 10.1 percent increase from the typical traffic volume of 20,626 vehicles. For those leaving Malang via the Lawang toll gate, 27,869 vehicles were recorded, an increase of 7.31 percent from the average daily traffic of 25,970 vehicles,” Guntur elaborated, showing a consistent pattern of elevated activity.
The increase in traffic was equally pronounced at the Malang toll gate, located in Madyopuro, Kedungkandang, Malang City, where 45,053 vehicles entered the city. This particular section of the toll road witnessed a 7.9 percent rise in vehicle movement compared to its normal daily count of 41,760 vehicles.
“As for vehicles exiting Malang through this toll gate, 39,499 were recorded, which is a 1.39 percent increase from the average daily traffic of 38,956 vehicles,” he explained, indicating a high volume of departures as well.
In light of this heavy traffic, JPM urges all toll road users to meticulously prepare for their journeys. This includes ensuring vehicles are in optimal condition, adequately fueled, and equipped with sufficient electronic money balance for seamless toll transactions.
“We also advise travelers to carry adequate provisions and to rest at designated areas if they feel fatigued while driving,” Guntur concluded, emphasizing the importance of safety and preparedness during this peak travel period.