1Berita – A video depicting traffic congestion along the road to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali went viral on social media on Friday (29/12).
In the video, on Bali Mandara Toll Road, four-wheeled vehicles were at a standstill in a traffic jam. As a result, foreign tourists caught in the congestion got out of their vehicles and chose to walk towards I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali to avoid missing their flights.
Kompol I Made Berata, the Head of Operations at the Ngurah Rai International Airport Police Area, confirmed the incident. “Yes, we saw it because maybe their time was tight, and we also helped; there were 10 people (tourists) here,” said Kompol Berata when contacted on Friday night (29/12).
Not only foreign tourists walked towards I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, but domestic tourists also did the same. The police assisted tourists trying to catch their flights by giving them rides on motorcycles.
“Both domestic and foreign tourists, they depart in the afternoon and evening, quite a few. For domestic tourists walking, there were three people, some with suitcases and some with bags; I met them at the airport entrance gate. We gave them rides on motorcycles; luckily, there were also online motorcycle taxis we stopped, and if the drivers agreed, they paid the online taxi and were assisted,” he added.
He explained that the traffic density towards I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport occurred around 14:00 WITA (Central Indonesian Time). The congestion in the airport area is suspected to be due to an increase in arriving and departing passengers.
“If it’s crowded, it was around 14:00 WITA. We have deployed 75 combined personnel with the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) and Avsec from Ngurah Rai Airport. The congestion is because today, there are quite a few arrivals and departures. So, towards the airport, it’s quite crowded and very busy,” he said.
However, as of now, according to Berata, vehicles inside I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali have started moving because the officers have regulated them.
“Until now, it’s still flowing because the key is the in and out; if the vehicles are out, inside can automatically circulate. I also coordinated with the Kuta Police, who are pulling and directing traffic so that vehicles can exit, and those entering (the airport) can also do so,” he said.
“As for traffic jams outside, I don’t know. Because my authority is inside (the airport), what is clear is that we are trying to figure out how vehicles inside can get out. Because today, there are quite a few passengers coming,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Kombes Jansen Avitus Panjaitan, the Public Relations Director of the Bali Regional Police, stated that the traffic flow of vehicles entering Bali increased as the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holidays approached, and many tourists arrived for vacation, especially those from outside Bali bringing private vehicles.
Regarding the increased traffic flow, the Bali Regional Police had predicted and taken precautions by deploying traffic teams to critical congestion points. The public was also urged to cooperate, analyze road conditions, remain orderly, and adhere to traffic regulations.
Regarding the congestion towards I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, the Bali Regional Police continued to take measures to alleviate congestion by regulating and increasing personnel at congestion points.
“Cooperation from road users and motorized vehicles is highly expected. Another method is to utilize real-time traffic flow technology to monitor and anticipate which lanes are congested and which are not,” he said.
