9.7 Mln Jakartans Expected To Leave City For Aidilfitri

JAKARTA, July 16 (Bernama) -- One week into the fasting month of Ramadan, the Jakarta Administration has already prepared itself to handle the annual exodus of Jakartans to their home villages to celebrate the Aidilfitri this year, which is expected to fall on Aug 8 and 9. This year, over 9.7 million people are expected to leave Jakarta for their home villages, a figure which is 8.6 per cent higher than the nine million people who left the city last year. "Up to 2.5 million residents are predicted to take public transportation via land, while around 1.3 million people will fly out. The remainder will either take cars or motorcycles to their respective hometowns," Udar Pristono, the head of Jakarta Transportation Agency, was qouted as saying. City leaders have expressed concern over the high number of people heading home on motorcycles during the annual exodus, because last year, about 80 per cent of traffic accidents during the exodus period involved motorcycles, English daily, The Jakarta Post reported Monday. Jakarta police chief Putut Eko Bayuseno suggested arranging homeward-bound bus convoys to reduce the number of motorcyclists — predicted to reach 1.5 million during this year's exodus. The city is also anticipating an influx of job seekers after the Aidilfitri holidays, and for this year, the newcomers will be advised to get temporary Jakarta identity cards to legalise their temporary stay. "We will put up banners and announcements at bus terminals and other entry points, a week before and a week after the holidays," said Jakarta Civil Registration Agency head Purba Hutapea. The agency will also intensify dissemination of information on regulations for newcomers wishing to move into the capital, which is home to more than 11 million people. "We welcome people wanting to move to Jakarta, as long as they have letters of change in residency, residential and work guarantees," said Purba. -- BERNAMA