Bisnis.Com, Jakarta – The secretary of the state passenger ferry operator ASDP Indonesia Ferry, Shelvy Arifin, said passenger and vehicle mobility in this year's mudik saw a surge 12 days ahead of the Eid al-Fitr national holidays.

The mobility of migrants or migrant workers heading back to their hometowns saw its busiest happening in two routes: Merak-Bakauheni and Ketapang-Gilimanuk on Saturday May 1.

The state ferry operator noted 38,201 people had left ports on Java Island and headed to Sumatra, which was a 517 percent rise compared to last year when the pandemic first struck with 6,191 people.

"This year, people started to travel early following the government's policy banning mudik from May 6-17," said Shelvy to Bisnis.com on May 3.

The company noted the Merak Port logged 2,810 motorcycles leaving Java Island from the seaport to Sumatra, which was a stark contrast to last year's four motorcycles leaving the port ahead of Eid al-Fitr.

Meanwhile, there were 4,365 cars that left the seaport this year, which is a 534 percent increase compared to last year and 165 percent increase compared to 2019 when no pandemic policies were implemented.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1458858/vehicles-leave-early-ahead-of-ban-on-mudik-mass-exodu