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Work on future capital to start in second half of year
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This handout released on Jan. 18, 2022 shows a computer-generated impression of the presidential palace to be built in Indonesia’s planned new capital city in East Kalimantan. (AFP/Handout)
T
he government must begin work on the new capital city in the second half of this year, as further postponement would jeopardize plans to make the move in 2024, according to the Public Works and Housing Ministry.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has expressed his wish to move the capital by Aug. 16, 2024, a day before Independence Day. That target leaves a rather short time for the construction of such a massive project.
The government would have just over two years to construct the designated city center for the state palace, ministries, legislature and other government agencies, while also building roads, as well as water, sanitation and electricity infrastructure.
“To complete it in 2024, we assume that it is critical to start in the early second half of 2022,” said Imam Santoso Ernawi, who heads the new capital planning and development task force at the Public Works and Housing Ministry, as well as the ministry’s Human Settlements Directorate General.
“By then, physical [construction] has to begin, especially for all [the buildings] considered a priority,” Imam said during a discussion broadcast live on Wednesday.
Read also: Indonesia passes law to relocate capital to remote Kalimantan
In his presentation, Imam revealed that the new capital would occupy 6,671 hectares divided into three areas. Area 1, to house core government buildings like the state palace, ministries, civil servant housing and a state mosque, would need to be completed in 2024.
