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Governor welcomes capital relocation; but unlikely in near future
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Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat (center) speaks to journalists on the sidelines of an Idul Fitri open house event at City Hall on June 25. (JP/Callista Anggun Wijaya)
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akarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat has expressed his support of the central government’s plan to relocate the capital city, saying that it would help alleviate some of the burdens Jakarta currently faces.
The move, he added, would ease congestion and, subsequently, air pollution.
"If it is materialized, we will be relieved, won't we?" Djarot said at City Hall on Wednesday, stressing that, ideally, the capital city should host the offices of government and state institutions.
Jakarta has become overburdened because it also serves as Indonesia’s center of commerce and industry, Djoarot said.
However, he conceded that a relocation would unlikely be implemented in the near future as such a significant shift requires extensive preparations, including conducting various studies.
(Read also: No decision yet on location of new capital city: Minister)
"We, from the Jakarta administration, are ready, but I am not sure that the relocation will be carried out within one or two years," he said.
Previously, National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said his ministry aimed to complete a study into possible new capital city by the end of this year.
The new center of government would not be located on the densely populated island of Java, but in Kalimantan, he added without revealing which city is being considered. (bbn)
