REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- The traffic jam in West Sumatra during this year's Eid al-Fitr or Lebaran holidays was worse than that experienced during the same period in 2017. Last year, the traffic gridlock on the Padang-Bukittinggi and Padang-Pessir Selatan road segments caused vehicles to travel for eight hours.

"During this year's Lebaran holidays, vehicles took 12 hours to cover the distance," West Sumatra Deputy Governor Nasrul Abit said here on Thursday.

Severe congestion, which occurred from Saturday (June 16) to Monday (June 18), is estimated to be caused by an increase in the number of vehicles in West Sumatra and travelers during the Lebaran holidays as compared to the previous year. However, a comprehensive evaluation is necessary to uncover the exact cause, such as assessment of some variables, including the number of visitors and the hotel occupancy rate.

Nasrul noted that congestion should serve as a lesson to make necessary efforts to prevent any recurrence in the following year.

On the other hand, congestion on the path connecting to tourist destinations means that tourism attractions in West Sumatra are increasingly in demand among domestic tourists, especially from the surrounding provinces. It should also be evaluated primarily to improve facilities at tourist attractions in order to provide comfort to tourists.

Savendra, a citizen of Payakumbuh, said he experienced severe traffic jam on the Bukittinggi-Payakumbuh road segment on Sunday (June 17). Distance between the two adjacent towns is some 30 kilometers that can be covered in 30 minutes, but that day, due to severe traffic jams, it took him 9.5 hours to cover the same distance.

The government should take precautionary measures to handle the problem to prevent any recurrence in Lebaran 2019.

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