Rethink Sunda Strait bridge construction, govt told

Indonesian environmental guru Emil Salim says the government should re-think its plan to build the massive Sunda Strait bridge, which will be one of the world's longest bridges once the construction is accomplished.

Emil said that the government should involve earthquake experts and other related experts before deciding to commence the construction of the 29 km-long bridge that would connect the islands of Java and Sumatra through Banten and Lampung.

"Engineers are seemingly charmed with the planned Sunda Strait bridge. But, please, talk first with quake experts and others, and scrutinize the movements of tectonic plates and sea currents in the area," Emil told a discussion on regional development planning here on Wednesday.

He said it was better to develop sea and air transports to connect the two main Indonesian islands before deciding to kick off the construction of the bridge over the busy Sunda Strait.