Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s police chief on Monday proposed a first-come, first-served boarding system at key ferry ports to prevent bottlenecks during the annual Eid al-Fitr homecoming rush, as authorities prepare for Operation Ketupat 2026.National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo said boarding strictly based on ticket purchase time and printed departure dates could trigger congestion if travelers arrive simultaneously at ports.“At the peak of the homecoming flow, we are asking stakeholders to allow those who arrive first to board immediately,” he said at a cross-sector coordination meeting. “We also seek supporting policies related to ferry crossings.”He said Banten will be a primary focus for security and traffic services, as it serves as the main gateway for travelers crossing from Java to Sumatra during the exodus and return trips.Authorities will implement a traffic alert system at three ports in Banten: Merak Port, Ciwandan Port and Bandar Bakau Jaya Port.At Merak, a green alert signals normal queues, yellow indicates lines stretching to the Cikuasa Atas gas station, and red means congestion has reached the Merak toll gate. Ciwandan applies the same system.Bandar Bakau Jaya Port, which handles tankers, heavy trucks and equipment vehicles, uses similar thresholds. Green reflects smooth traffic, yellow indicates vehicles have reached the port entrance, and red means buffer zones at PT SMI and Jalan Lingkar Road are full.Operation Ketupat, the nationwide security campaign for the Eid Al Fitr, will run from March 13 to March 25, 2026, under the theme “Safe Homecoming and Happy Families.”Hundreds of thousands of joint personnel from police, the military and other agencies will be deployed to manage traffic and ensure public safety during one of the world’s largest annual migrations.