DENPASAR, OborDewata.com – The severe traffic congestion on Bali Mandara Toll Road during the 2023 Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holidays was a dark moment for Bali tourism. Many tourists avoided traveling to Bali out of fear of being stuck in traffic.
Acting Governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, has assured that such extreme traffic jams will not occur again. He emphasized close collaboration with the National Police Chief, TNI Commander, and the central government.
“I am confident, with the great attention from the TNI Commander and others involved, we can do better. What happened on December 29, 2023, will not be repeated,” said Mahendra Jaya.
He claimed that there would no longer be traffic jams causing inconvenience to tourists visiting Bali. Preparations have been made to prevent vehicle congestion in areas prone to traffic jams. “It won’t happen again. We are better prepared,” he added.
Meanwhile, Head of Traffic at the Bali Provincial Transportation Department, I Putu Sutaryana, stated that although there may be heavy traffic, vehicles will still be able to move, even if slowly.
“Astungkara (God willing), our colleagues at the Traffic and Road Transport Department (P2LLAJ) will also patrol key routes, especially those leading to the airport, and the police will always be on standby,” he explained.
The Bali Transportation Department will coordinate with regional transportation offices and collaborate with the police and other stakeholders. Regarding tourist hotspots, the local transportation offices will oversee those areas, such as Kuta and Sanur, which attract many visitors.
“For Kuta, the Badung Regency Transportation Department colleagues will handle it, as they have more precise information. They will conduct patrols together with the relevant teams,” he concluded. ri/nda/sathya
