Indonesias Eid rush: Gilimanuk bottleneck turns fatal amid mass exodus

TheIndonesia.co - Severe congestion at Pelabuhan Gilimanuk, the main crossing point to Pelabuhan Ketapang, has drawn sharp criticism from transport experts. The gridlock, which began on Sunday (15 March), is being described as evidence of poor ferry management by the Kementerian Perhubungan, particularly in anticipating the overlap between Eid homecoming travel and Hari Raya Nyepi.

According to Deddy Herlambang from Inisiatif Strategis Transportasi, warnings about the potential surge in traffic had been issued well in advance. However, mitigation measures were deemed insufficient. As of Wednesday (18 March), queues of vehicles still stretched up to eight kilometres, after previously reaching as far as 30–40 kilometres.

Fatality Amid Prolonged Queues

The crisis has not only caused extreme delays but also resulted in a fatality. A 39-year-old woman from Kebumen, Central Java, died after losing consciousness while waiting for hours inside a bus. Medical personnel reported no signs of violence, suggesting that exhaustion from prolonged travel and exposure to heat were likely contributing factors.

Prior to this incident, at least 17 travellers had reportedly collapsed under similar conditions. Kadek Citra Dewi Suparwati confirmed the death and urged travellers to ensure they are physically fit before undertaking long journeys.

Travellers Describe ‘Worst-Ever’ Conditions

Many travellers have described this year’s situation as the worst they have experienced. One commuter, Made Eko Juna, said his journey to reach the ferry terminal took nearly two days due to persistent traffic. Another traveller, Wiwid, reported spending over 15 hours just to arrive at the port area.

The surge in traffic is largely attributed to travellers attempting to leave Bali ahead of the temporary closure of ferry services during Nyepi. Data from PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry shows that more than 25,000 vehicles crossed within a 24-hour period, with motorcycles accounting for the majority.

Criticism Over Poor Mitigation

Experts argue that the situation reflects a failure in planning and resource allocation. Deddy Herlambang criticised authorities for not redistributing ferry vessels more effectively, noting that many ships were concentrated in less busy routes such as Merak–Bakauheni.

He suggested deploying additional roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels that do not rely on dock infrastructure to speed up loading and unloading processes. Meanwhile, Masyarakat Transportasi Indonesia, represented by Djoko Setijowarno, highlighted structural issues, including poor arrival management systems and insufficient dock capacity. Without infrastructure expansion, access roads will continue to function as overflow parking areas, exacerbating congestion.

Government Response

In response, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi issued an apology, acknowledging the severe congestion and its impact on travellers. He stated that authorities are working continuously to ease traffic and improve conditions on the ground.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi added that several measures have been implemented, including increasing the fleet to 35 vessels, optimising buffer zones, and accelerating loading systems.

Despite these efforts, the incident underscores the urgent need for integrated planning. Without it, seasonal travel peaks such as the Eid exodus risk triggering recurring crises—potentially with even more severe consequences.