Indonesia
Happy Mudik, Mudikers!
For the seventh time, the annual Mudik Gratis (Homecoming Free) is thrown by Radar Surabaya, a local newspaper of Jawa Pos News Network (JPNN) in Surabaya. On Friday, July 25th 2014, 2,500 people departed in the morning from Graha Pena, 88 Ahmad Yani Street, Surabaya. There’s no struggling for bus or seat, Superkids. Everything went orderly because everyone already had a ticket with bus and seat number on it.
Since a few weeks earlier, the committee has opened a free of charge registration. The requirement is simple; a copy of ID, five Mudik Gratis coupons from Radar Surabaya newspaper, and copy of registration of a Yamaha vehicle, the main sponsor for this program. The Mudik Gratis sends people of eight cities in East Java; Banyuwangi, Jember, Bojonegoro, Ponorogo, Tuban, Trenggalek and Blitar. “We have prepared 50 buses with capacity of 2,500 passengers. Ticket to every destination is sold out,” Lilik Widyantoro, the Director of Radar Surabaya, explained in his speech when releasing the Mudik Gratis convoy.
The departure convoy of Mudik Gratis was attended by Governor of East Java H Soekarwo aka Pakde Karwo, Chief of Police for East Java Irjen Unggung Cahyono, and Head of Transportation and Traffic Service (PLLAJ) Wahid Wahyudi. Pakde Karwo admitted to be impressed by the totality of Radar Surabaya with the commitment to carry out the annual Mudik Gratis. Each bus was limited to the normal capacity of 40 passengers, making mudik become comfortable along the way. Each bus was also assisted by a tour leader, who was in charge for the trip.
“This Mudik Gratis is very positive, which is very helpful for the community. I owe a big gratitude for Radar Surabaya for the continuity to carry out this program,” said Pakde Karwo with happy face. “Trust me, no one is loosing anything after helping others. The rich will get even richer,” Pakde Karwo added on.
Meanwhile, Unggung noted to every driver to drive safely, taking everyone to the destination. He reminded, there are at least 10 traffic risky dots in East Java. Among those dots were in the border of Ponorogo-Trenggalek, where the road was damaged and had a risk of landslide. “Drivers are not allowed sleepy. If you get tired, take a rest to keep everyone on the bus and other road user safe,” Unggung said.
Anggoro, a participant from Bojonegoro, claimed to be excited with the mudik group without having to pay anything. He went on Mudik Gratis with wife and a three years old kid. “Imagine what it’s like to mudik on a public bus. We have to wait for hours in the station and rush to get on the bus, where there’s no guarantee that there’s a seat available,” he added on, describing.
HAFIDA INDRAWATI
PHOTOS: ANDY SATRIA/RADAR SURABAYA
