BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – The operator of Bali Mandara Toll Road has announced a temporary suspension of operations for 32 hours in observance of Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu Day of Silence, which falls on Thursday, March 19.
The toll road will be closed starting Wednesday (March 18) at 23:00 WITA and will reopen on Friday (March 20) at 07:00 WITA.
The temporary closure is part of efforts to respect Nyepi, a sacred day in Bali when the island observes a complete pause in daily activities.
President Director of PT Jasamarga Bali Tol, I Ketut Adiputra Karang, said the decision reflects the company’s commitment to honoring the religious observance.
“The temporary suspension of toll road operations is a form of respect for the Nyepi celebration, which is a sacred day for Hindu communities in Bali,” Adiputra Karang said on Thursday (March 12).
During the closure period, toll road staff will remain on standby to ensure services continue according to operational standards.
However, the toll road may still be used for emergency purposes, including fire trucks, ambulances, and other essential operational vehicles.
“Emergency vehicles are still allowed to pass through the toll road, but they must be accompanied by pecalang or relevant authorities in accordance with established procedures,” he explained.
The toll road operator is also supporting preparations for Nyepi ceremonies, including the Melasti purification ritual scheduled for Monday, March 16, at 05:00 WITA in the Pedungan traditional village area.
To ensure the smooth flow of the ceremony, the company will deploy its Mobile Customer Service team and coordinate with police officers and traditional security personnel (pecalang) to manage traffic.
Temporary traffic adjustments will also be implemented during the Melasti procession.
A contra-flow system will be applied on the access road to Benoa Port starting at 05:00 WITA until the ceremony is completed.
The lane from the Pertamina Depot to Benoa Port will be designated for participants attending the Melasti ceremony, while the route from the port toward Pesanggaran will function as a two-way traffic lane.
The operator will also deploy cleaning crews around the ceremony area and place ambulances at several strategic points to anticipate possible emergencies.
Meanwhile, Bali’s main gateway, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, will also suspend operations for 24 hours during Nyepi.
The airport will close from March 19 at 06:00 WITA until March 20 at 06:00 WITA.
During this period, a total of 440 scheduled commercial flights will not operate, including 231 domestic flights and 209 international flights.
General Manager of Angkasa Pura Indonesia at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Nugroho Jati, said the airport has prepared supporting services to maintain passenger comfort during the Ramadan and Nyepi period.
“We remain committed to providing the best service during the Ramadan and Nyepi period. All supporting facilities have been prepared to ensure passengers experience a comfortable and harmonious journey,” he said.