North Jakarta residents have welcomed the Jakarta Provincial Government’s 2026 Free Homecoming Program with strong enthusiasm. Amid rising ticket prices ahead of Eid al-Fitr, the program is seen as a safe and affordable solution for those wishing to return to their hometowns.

Ilyas Fauli, a Koja resident, said this is his first time joining the free homecoming program. He plans to travel to Sragen after learning about the program from a colleague.

"The program is a big help, especially when ticket prices rise and seats sell out. This year, I'm going on my own," he said on Friday (2/27).

Ilyas hoped the free homecoming program would continue every year. He also suggested improving the online registration system to avoid technical issues when accessed by the public.

"Hopefully the trip will go smoothly so I can arrive home safely and reunite with my family," he added.

A similar sentiment was shared by Dhea (27), a Sukapura resident who will travel to Palembang. She said this is her second time joining the program after experiencing its benefits last year.

"I found out about this through social media. The program is very helpful and convenient. This year I registered for a round trip," she shared.

Dhea added that she felt safe and comfortable during last year's journey. This year, she will travel with her grandparents.

"Hopefully more slots will be made available so more residents can join the program," she said.

Meanwhile, North Jakarta Transportation Sub-agency Head Rudi Saptari Sulesuryana said this year's program will accommodate 26,440 passengers on 661 buses, along with 900 motorcycles transported by 30 trucks.

"Every year, the Jakarta Provincial Government through the Transportation Agency organizes the free homecoming program. This year, there are 20 destination terminals and six destinations for motorcycle transport trucks," he explained.

According to him, information about the program was disseminated not only through social media but also via direct outreach at busy locations, including Rawabadak Market, Berikat Nusantara Area, Lontar Market, and Central Cakung Business Park.

The program is divided into three clusters. Registration for the first cluster (Solo, Tasikmalaya, Palembang, Madiun, Sragen, and Cilacap) will take place on February 22–24, 2026, followed by the second cluster (Yogyakarta, Kuningan, Lampung, Tegal, Kebumen, Jombang, and Pekalongan) on February 25–27, 2026.

"The third cluster serves Wonogiri, Kediri, Malang, Wonosobo, Purwokerto, Semarang, and Sidoarjo, with registration from February 28 to March 2, 2026," he informed.

Verification is carried out according to each cluster's schedule. For the first cluster in North Jakarta, 33 applicants representing 88 passengers registered on the first day, while 11 applicants representing 36 passengers registered on the second day.

"Registration is closed immediately once the allocated quota is filled," he asserted.

Rudi explained that trucks carrying motorcycles are scheduled to depart from Pulo Gadung Terminal on March 16, 2026, while passengers will leave from the National Monument (Monas) area on March 17, 2026. The return trips are set for March 26, 2026, for motorcycles and March 27, 2026, for passengers.

He urged prospective travelers to register online, prepare the required documents, maintain good health, and avoid carrying excessive luggage or valuables during the trip.

"We hope residents can take advantage of this program in an orderly manner while prioritizing safety throughout the journey," he noted.