Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Sumatra routes and Java`s northern coastal highway (Pantura) are now ready and safe for travelers wanting to celebrate Idul Fitri Muslim festivity, a minister said.

"I think is okay, safe," Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said here on Friday.

The construction works of two bridges respectively at Pemali and around Brebes in Pantura area had been completed and are now functioning.

The government has estimated that the number of home-bound travelers this year will reach 15.4 million people.

"From the outcome of today`s meeting to check the readiness of related institutions to implement the 2011 Lebaran Integrated Transportation System, we find that the government is ready to do so," Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said recently.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Coordinating Ministry for Economy, Public Works Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry, Health Ministry, Trade Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, and other related parties.

Freddy expressed hope that transportation service this year of holiday travelers would be much better than that of the previous years.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of State-owned Enterprises (SOE) said state firms operating on transportation were ready to face explosion of passengers during the fasting and the post-fasting months of Lebaran festivities.

"We have summoned them (SOE in the transportation sector) and asked them to mobilize all of their fleet in order to prevent concentrations of passengers in the run-up to Lebaran," State Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar said recently.

The minister was referring to state-owned transportation firms PT Kereta Api Indoniesia (train), PT Pelni (shipping), PT Garuda (airlines) and PT ASDP (inland waterway transportation).

"We make these preparations in line with the president`s directives that the transportation system must be prepared to smooth transportation, food security, efficient energy, food availability and distribution," the minister said.(*)

(f001/HAJM)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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