Lebaran Return Traffic: One-Way System to Jakarta Starts Tomorrow 2 PM

Jakarta – Indonesia’s Korlantas Polri (National Traffic Corps) announced plans Monday to implement a one-way traffic system on major toll roads beginning Tuesday at 2:00 PM local time to manage the anticipated surge in traffic during the peak of the post-Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr) holiday return flow.

The one-way system, dubbed “arus balik,” will initially span from Kilometer 414 of the Kalikangkung Toll Road to Kilometer 70 of the Cikampek Utama Toll Road, according to Korlantas Polri Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho. The policy aims to facilitate the return of travelers to Jakarta and surrounding areas.

“The priority for high traffic volume is the national return flow one-way system, which will be implemented tomorrow at 2:00 PM, with the flag-off directly led by the National Police Chief and several ministers in attendance,” Suryonugroho told reporters.

Authorities estimate approximately 270,000 vehicles will be returning to Jakarta during the peak of the return flow, based on outbound traffic volumes observed during the height of the Lebaran exodus. As of Monday, 43% of travelers who left Jakarta for the holiday have not yet returned, prompting the implementation of the traffic management measures, Suryonugroho stated.

Korlantas Polri will extend the one-way system beyond the initial 24th of March implementation if traffic volumes remain high, potentially continuing through March 26th. “If the traffic flow remains high, we will extend it. When the flow decreases, we can manage it and potentially lift the one-way system,” Suryonugroho explained. He cautioned travelers against attempting to return to Jakarta solely on Tuesday, warning of potential congestion between Kilometer 70, and Jakarta.

Agus Suryonugroho was appointed to the position of Kakorlantas Polri on January 31, 2025, replacing Irjen Pol Aan Suhanan, according to official police announcements. He previously served as the Deputy Chief of the Central Java Regional Police since 2023, and held the position of Head of the Traffic Accident Sub-Directorate of the National Traffic Police in 2018. He began his career in law enforcement in 2000 as the Head of Traffic Police for Semarang.

The implementation of the one-way system is part of a broader effort to manage traffic flow and ensure the safety of travelers during the post-Lebaran period. Authorities have not yet announced specific contingency plans for managing traffic should the one-way system prove insufficient to handle the volume of returning vehicles.