JAKARTA, March 28 (Bernama): As millions prepare to travel for Eid al-Fitr (Hari Raya Aidilfitri), Indonesia’s Navy (TNI AL) has deployed a warship to transport passengers and their motorcycles, aiming to ease traffic congestion and curb the annual spike 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, from Jakarta to Semarang and Surabaya.
The initiative, overseen by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dr Muhammad Ali, offers a safer and more comfortable alternative to the long, often hazardous road journeys many Indonesians undertake each holiday season.
The programme was launched at the Military Maritime Command dock in North Jakarta, where families gathered and their motorcycles were loaded onto the vessel, according to a TNI AL statement.
"The public’s enthusiasm has been overwhelming. This year, all spots were booked within just two days of registration,” Muhammad said, highlighting the growing demand for safer travel options.
The warship will also accommodate 1,264 travellers and 328 motorcycles on the return journey, which is scheduled to depart Surabaya on April 6, stop in Semarang, and arrive in Jakarta on April 7.
Onboard, passengers will be treated to meals, live music, and films - an experience far removed from the long, traffic-clogged journeys many Indonesians typically face during the festive rush.
Alongside the warship service, the Indonesian Navy is also deploying 100 buses to transport its personnel and their families, with departures from military bases across Jakarta.
The initiative is part of a wider government effort to ensure safer and more efficient travel during the Eid period as the country braces for one of the world’s largest annual mass migrations, TNI AL added. -- Bernama
