Government Provides Free Homecoming Program, Registration Now Open

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The government is providing at least 100,000 seats for the public in the Free Homecoming program to celebrate Eid 2025. They will be transported by bus, train, and ship starting March 25, 2025. The registration process has begun to accommodate and facilitate the public, especially the lower middle class to return to their hometowns.

The Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises or BUMN together with the companies under it, have prepared to organize free homecoming to celebrate Eid 2025. The quota and procedures for each company are different.

In 2025, the Ministry of SOEs through 78 companies targets 100,000 homecoming travelers registered in the Free Homecoming program. In detail, the state insurance company provides 1,360 buses that will carry 67,000 passengers, 90 train sets that carry 28,000 passengers, and 26 ships that carry 5,000 passengers.

The travelers will be transported to more than 200 destination districts/cities. Homecoming registration through Jasa Raharja will open from March 3, 2025 to March 17, 2025 on the site https://mudik.jasaraharja.co.id/. They will be sent off in stages starting March 25, 2025 or D-6 before Eid al-Fitr.

"Registration for the BUMN Free Homecoming program has now been improved with a verification system based on the Population Identification Number (NIK) on the Population Identity Card (KTP). With this system, each prospective homecoming traveler can only register for one free homecoming program and cannot register at two different agencies," said Jasa Raharja President Director Rivan A Purwantono in a press conference for the preparation of Eid al-Fitr 2025 in Jakarta, Tuesday (4/3/2025).

In this way, it is hoped that the Free Homecoming program can be utilized by more people. The existing quota can be distributed more evenly and optimally. When there is a double registration, only the first registration is recognized.

Jasa Raharja will open a similar Free Homecoming program with a target of 21,017 homecoming travelers. Later, they will be transported by bus and train. The homecoming locations are spread across Semarang (Central Java), Surabaya (East Java), Bandung (West Java), Jakarta, and Palembang (South Sumatra).

Rivan said, all vehicles used by homecoming travelers must be roadworthy. Tourist attractions are the most popular locations visited during long holidays.

"On March 29, 2025, it will coincide with Nyepi Day. At that time, all access to enter Bali will definitely be closed. Please note that the policy of restrictions on tourist attractions in Bali is important. If you want to go there, you must (leave) before (Nyepi)," said Rivan.

Separately, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI also presents the Free Homecoming program with the Ministry of SOEs. Similar to Jasa Raharja, the departure of travelers will be carried out on March 26, 2025 for 400 people who have free tickets.

They will be departed using the Tawang Jaya Premium train. The route is Pasar Senen-Semarang Tawang which departs at 06.45 and arrives at its destination at 12.53.

"We want to ensure that the homecoming trip remains safe, comfortable, and memorable for customers. With this program, people do not need to worry about the cost of train tickets and can focus more on enjoying the homecoming trip with family," said Anne.

The Tawang Jaya Premium train (train 178) will stop at several stations. The journey starts from Pasar Senen, continues to Jatinegara, Bekasi, Cikarang, Jatibarang, Cirebon, Brebes, Tegal, Pemalang, Pekalongan, Weleri, Semarang Poncol, and ends in Semarang Tawang.

"As a form of service improvement, KA Tawang Jaya Premium uses a more comfortable new image economy class train set," he said.

Some of the main features of this train, Anne continued, are the availability of 21 rows of seats with a total of 80 seats per train. The seats are individual seats with armrests on each seat, central air conditioning, and a 2-2 seat formation that is not facing each other, except for seats number 11-12.

For people who are interested in using this program, it is mandatory to have an Access by KAI application account. Reservations are made online, without the need to register on the application. Registration starts Tuesday (4/3/2025). One account can only order a maximum of four tickets. One traveler can bring an infant, without reducing the participant quota and not getting a seat number.

Previously, the President Director of Damri Public Company Setia N Milatia Moemin said that his company would accommodate 25 agencies in the 2025 joint homecoming transportation program. The program will facilitate 14,400 homecoming travelers transported by 300 bus fleets.

"There are several companies that seem to be going to join in holding this joint homecoming," said Setia.

Based on the survey results of the Transportation Policy Agency of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) together with the Kompas Research and Development Agency, the potential for movement during the 2025 Eid holiday is predicted to reach 52 percent of the total population of Indonesia. The figure is equivalent to 146.48 million people.

The potential movement during the 2025 Eid holiday from Java Island reached 51.3 percent or 81.5 million people. The majority came from West Java, East Java, and Central Java.

The peak of the homecoming flow is predicted to occur on March 28, 2025 or D-3 of Eid. At that time, the volume of vehicles expected to leave Jakarta will jump by 60 percent compared to the normal daily vehicle volume.

"The traffic of people leaving Jakarta involves at least eight toll gates (GT). As many as three GTs are in West Java which is also the center of the 2025 Lebaran homecoming flow. We need coordination to anticipate potential congestion at these points," said Dudy.

He also reminded of the potential for spillover markets that will emerge during Eid. Reflecting on previous years, at least 25 spillover markets on the arterial homecoming route from Jakarta through West Java to Central Java will be found on March 26-29, 2025. There are also other obstacles, such as the operation of delman and becak, as well as urban transportation that stops.

In addition to the Ministry of SOEs, usually the Ministry of Transportation will also hold a free homecoming program. However, the program has not been announced at the same time that people start preparing for their homecoming well in advance. This issue is getting more complicated amidst budget cut instructions.

Ministry of Transportation Spokesperson Elba Damhuri said the free homecoming program is still under technical discussion. However, he ensured that the program is still available for the community. The quota for homecoming travelers is also being calculated.

"Once it's decided, we'll let you know," said Elba.

According to the Deputy Chairperson of Empowerment and Regional Development of the Central Indonesian Transportation Community Djoko Setijowarno, Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi needs to continue to strive for the sustainability of the free homecoming program. Moreover, the ministry provided free seats for 85,694 homecoming travelers in 2024.

Dudy is expected to promise better management with registration only through one application. The number of travelers will increase, so that empty seats will no longer be found because the system has been integrated. They cannot register with more than one free homecoming provider.

Although the government provides a 13-14 percent discount on airplane tickets and a discount on a number of toll roads, the lower middle class is still burdened to be able to return home. "Wouldn't it be cheaper if we used free bus transportation, free trains, and free ships? The lower middle class previously went home using free transportation, now they have to spend some money to go home," said Djoko.

He reminded that the free homecoming program is still needed by the community. They have the right to return to their hometowns to celebrate Eid. However, the implementation of free homecoming cannot be relied on only through the BUMN program. Because, for a long time the Ministry of Transportation has also played a role in providing the program.