Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Severe traffic congestion has gripped several key roads around Jakarta’s Monas area on Saturday, October 5, 2024, as large crowds flocked to attend the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) 79th anniversary celebration.
The highly anticipated event, held in Central Jakarta, was open to the public, allowing people to participate in commemorating this historic day. However, the overwhelming enthusiasm of attendees resulted in heavy traffic congestion around Monas and on key routes leading to the event.
Traffic jams were reported on key streets such as East Merdeka and West Merdeka road, where both motorcycles and cars were brought to a near standstill. The heavy traffic was attributed to the sheer volume of vehicles converging at a single point, with some drivers resorting to using the opposite lanes in an attempt to bypass the gridlock—an action that only worsened the situation.
While also the lack of sufficient parking around the celebration area adding to the traffic chaos. Many motorcycles were seen parked along the roadside, further narrowing the streets and exacerbating the congestion.
Not only in the main road, commuter trains (KRL) leading into Jakarta were packed with passengers throughout Saturday morning. Many passengers were reported heading to Monas to witness the TNI’s anniversary celebration. Videos circulating on social media showed overcrowded train platforms, with passengers struggling to move and waiting in long queues to board or disembark at stations.
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Major train stations like Manggarai, Juanda and Gondangdia has been experienced a high volume of passengers early in the day. In response, KAI Commuter, the rail service operator, issued an advisory on its X account, urging passengers to consider alternative station stops if they were traveling to Monas.
TNI’s 79th Anniversary Event
The main celebration for TNI’s 79th anniversary is being held at Silang Monas Field in Central Jakarta. The event includes a military ceremony and a public exhibition of defense equipment (alutsista), allowing attendees to get a close-up view of Indonesia’s military capabilities.
The event is scheduled to run from morning until evening, starting with a formal TNI anniversary ceremony. Then followed by a grand parade showcasing more than 1,000 units of military equipment, including tactical vehicles, tanks, and weapons systems. There are also military demonstrations featuring Indonesia’s armed forces in action.
The celebrations conclude with entertainment performances from several prominent bands and artists, keeping the crowds entertained into the night.
(Raidi/Agung)
