J

uly 26, p2

The Sunda Strait Bridge is one of the most ambitious projects in our recent history. With the cost expected to reach Rp 225 trillion (US$24 billion) according to Deputy National Development Planning Minister Lukita D. Tuwo, this is one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in Indonesia.

After a long, drawn out gestation, the project recently made headlines after Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo proposed revisions to Presidential Regulation No. 86/2011 to bring the project in line with existing public-private partnership regulations.

Ideally, a public-private partnership works by injecting private money into a public project.

Paradoxically, the partnership in the Sunda Strait’s case might end up as public money injected into a private project.

The proposal from the finance minister to pay for a feasibility study using government cash could be seen as example of that phenomenon. (By Lin Che Wei, Jakarta)

Your comments:

If this project is realized, it would bring huge benefits to both people of Sumatra and Java. Of course it would stimulate and hasten economic development in this country. But who will finance this project?

It can be either by the state or private sector.

I hope this project is realized.

Sugiyan Eka Atmaja

Who is doing studies on the risks of earthquakes/tsunamis in this area? Obviously nobody. Or have they forgotten the last disaster already? Another absolutely crazy idea, like the one to build nuclear power plants in Indonesia, which sits on the Ring of Fire. Get real guys and do something intelligent.

Beer Michael

Seems to me the author is too naive to realize that a project in Indonesia can be politically viable even though it is not viable financially or economically.

Once you win politically, personal economic and financial benefits will follow.

Who bothers with the state budget nowadays?

Suri Adnyana

Has no one done a cost analysis comparison with improvements to the already existing infrastructure?

Surely more ferries — perhaps specifically for goods, vehicles and/or containers as well as cars and
passengers, plus improved roads and the planned rail network, would be would be vastly less costly than the proposed bridge — estimated (i.e. current) to cost US$24 billion. Really?

Improved infrastructure would also not be totally wiped out in the event of natural disasters, such as the next Krakatau eruption, and would also be a catalyst for the proposed economic zones.

All praise to Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo for giving a much-need pause to the plan, one which seems to be an egotistical play by Tommy Winata and his acolytes to surpass his Signature Tower which, at 638 meters, is set to be Jakarta’s tallest building.

Terry Collins