Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metropolitan Police rolled out its Idul Fitri security operation, known as "Operasi Ketupat Jaya," at midnight on Friday, the first day of Ramadan, by enforcing travel restrictions as part of the government's mudik ban this year.
Until this morning, police have forced 1,181 vehicles on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road to turn around and go back to Jakarta from the Cikarang and Cibitung toll gates.
"We started Operasi Ketupat Jaya from midnight last night to stop people from going back to their hometown," Jakarta Police spokesman Chief Comr. Yusri Yunus said on Friday.
He said the Jakarta Metropolitan Police set up roadblocks at two checkpoints on the toll road near the Cikarang and Cibitung gates. "We turned back 1,181 vehicles from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m, 498 from the Cibitung toll gate and 683 from Cikarang," he said.
Toll operator Jasamarga Transjawa Toll (JTT) supports the travel restrictions on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road. JTT regional general manager Widiyatmiko Nursejati confirmed there are now two checkpoints on the toll road.
"One on Kilometer 28 in West Cikarang for vehicles going to Cikampek and one on Kilometer 47 in West Karawang for vehicles going to Jakarta," he said in a statement.
Jasa Marga has also closed off the Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll roads in both directions. "We did that at midnight last night as well," he said.
Widiyatmiko said the travel restrictions are intended to limit the number of private vehicles and public transportation going in and out the Greater Jakarta area,
Vehicles still allowed on the toll road include state official cars, police cars, ambulances, fire engines and logistics trucks. "Jasa Marga supports the government's mudik ban to curb the spread of Covid-19. Everyone should obey the ban," he said.
Officers have been ordered to take a "persuasive and humanist" approach by asking vehicles to turn around while waiting for the government to issue fines for violators of the ban.