Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesian National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo proposed a "first come, first in" boarding system to mitigate severe congestion at ferry terminals during a cross-sectoral coordination meeting for Operation Ketupat 2026 on Monday (2/3/2026). 

The Chief warned that strict adherence to ticketed departure times during peak periods often triggers mass accumulation at ports.

"During the peak mudik flow, we request that stakeholders allow those who arrive first to board immediately to maintain movement," Chief Sigit said, as reported by antaranews.com.

Authorities are specifically focusing on Banten as the primary transit point for travelers crossing from Java to Sumatra. A tiered "Green, Yellow, and Red" status system will be implemented across Merak, Ciwandan, and BBJ ports to manage vehicle queues. 

Under this scheme, "Red" status is triggered when queues reach the Merak Toll Gate, prompting immediate diversion or emergency handling. Operation Ketupat 2026 is scheduled to run from 13 to 25 March 2026, deploying hundreds of thousands of joint personnel to ensure regional security.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)