Expedition trucks banned from passing Merak Port during Eid

Merak, Banten, July 12 (Antara) - Expedition trucks are banned from passing at Merak Ferry Port, Banten, during the Eid exodus from four days before (D-4) and seven days after (D+7) Eid or Lebaran festivity. "With the banning of expedition trucks we hope the flow of Eid travelers will be smooth," Mario Sardadi Oetomo, the spokesman of state-owned PT ASDP Inland Waterway Service for Merak, said here on Sunday. The banning is expected to prevent accumulations of vehicles that would create long queues before being loaded on ferries, he said adding that the peak of the travelers flow was expected to take place on Tuesday or three days before Lebaran on Friday. "All expedition trucks will be banned from passing through the ferry port during the D-4 to D+7 period to smooth the flow of Eid Fitr travelers," Oetomo said recently. He added that the ban on the trucks from entering Merak Port in the western tip of Java to travel to Bakauheni Port in the eastern part of Sumatra is only temporary. However, private cars, motorcycles and public buses will be allowed to use the ferry services. The trucks will be permitted to cross the ferry ports after D+7, or after the flow of Lebaran travelers returns to normal. Furthermore, he estimated that the number of vehicles that will board the ferries during the Lebaran holiday season this year will include 6,000 motorcycles, private cars and trucks every day. According to the ASDP spokesman, the flow of travelers this year is predicted to increase by about 7 percent and will be dominated by those commuting by two-wheelers. Therefore, the Merak branch of PT ASDP will operate as many as 30 ro-ro ships to cater to the rise in Lebaran travelers. The 30 ships are expected to make 95 trips per day between Merak Port in Banten and Bakauheni Port in Lamoung. In fact, loading and unloading activities at Merak Port will be completed in only 10 to 20 minutes. "If there is any further increase in the number of passengers and vehicles, we will bring more ships into operation to serve them," Oetomo noted.