ID :
116920
Thu, 04/15/2010 - 22:43
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/116920
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News Focus: SUNDA STRAIT BRIDGE TO IMPACT ON ALL ASIA
By Otniel Tamindael
Jakarta, April 15 (ANTARA) - Seen as a project that will bring countries in Asia closer to each other, a plan to build a bridge over the Sunda Strait to link Java and Sumatra islands has won the Indonesian government's full support.
When completed, the bridge across the Sunda Strait will connect Merak Port on the western tip of Java with Bakauheni Port in Sumatra, and thereby also alleviate chronic traffic congestion at the Merak-Bakauheni ferry crossing.
The concept of a Java-Sumatra bridge first emerged in the 1960s, and the idea was revived in the 1980s but could also not take off because of the 1997 Asian economic crisis.
But the government now fully supports the plan to build the bridge based on a precise and accurate plan, because it is expected to ensure smooth transportation of goods and people from Java to Sumatra vice versa and encourage economic growth on two of Indonesia's major islands.
Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah had said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had also thrown his weight behind the mega project.
In his opening address at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Government-Private Sector Cooperation in Infrastructure Development 2010 at the Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemayoran area on Thursday, President Yudhoyono said the government had opened the widest opportunities for private businesses to take part in the construction of various infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including the Sunda Strait bridge.
The president said he believed the building of the Sunda Strait bridge would have a very great impact on economic growth in Asia.
"Considering the importance of private sector participation in realizing the major project, the Indonesian government is offering the building of the Sunda Strait bridge in the book on Public Private Partnership: Infrastructure Projects in Indonesia 2010-2014," the head of state said.
The President said the government had prepared the necessary infrastructure networks of the Sunda Strait bridge which will link Java and Sumatra islands and be integrated with its surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, a National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) official said here on Tuesday that the construction of the Sunda Strait bridge would start in early or mid-2012.
"We estimate, it can be started early or in the middle of 2012 so it can be completed in 2017 or 2018," Deddy Priatna, Bappenas deputy chief for facility and infrastructure affairs, said after a coordination meeting at the office of the coordinating minister for economic affairs on Jalan Lapangan Banteng, Central Jakarta.
He said the construction of the bridge over the Sunda strait needed various preparations, including the making of a feasibility study and the bridge's design.
"It will take around 1.5 years to complete the feasibility study, while the design of the bridge will be completed in 2012," Deddy Priatna said.
He said a Sunda Strait Bridge Development National Team had already been formed on the basis of a Presidential Regulation (Perpres).
"But a working group must also be formed in accordance with a coordinating minister for economic affairs' decision which is expected to be issued next week," Deddy said.
Commenting on the funding of the project with a loan from China, Deddy said the loan of US$10 billion was a very big amount.
"It is a very big amount for the government to bear while in fact the project is supposed to be funded through a partnership between the government and the private sector," he said.
Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said on a separate occasion the government was really serious in planning the construction of the Sunda Strait bridge.
Djoko Kirmanto said the decision on the formation of working team had yet to be signed by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa.
"The team will prepare the plan, study its feasibility in detail," Djoko Kirmanto said.
Besides the project, President Yudhoyono also said the government had applied a two-lane policy in the last few years which had successfully facilitated and accelerated the building of infrastructure projects and facilitated the building of partnership between the government and private businesses.
Under this pattern the government has decided that the building of infrastructure with State Budget funding in the first lane, and the government inviting private businesses to take part in the building of infrastructure, in the second lane.
"By way of the two lanes, the building of infrastructure is aimed at strengthening domestic connectivity especially in the islands," he added.
He also said that one of the priority programs in the building of infrastructure will be focused on road and bridge construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance especially on the trans highways in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi,West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua by 2014.
The President on the occasion also pointed to some of the successful infrastructure projects in Indonesia including the extension of national roads from 343 thousand kilometers in 2004 to 391 thousand kilometers in 2009.
In addition, in the border regions roads 670.2 kilometers and 571.8 kilometers long had been built in the outer islands.
He also said that the Indonesian government have taken the necessary and comprehensive measures to promote the investment climate.
"I have always supported the participation of private businesses in the procurement of infrastructure projects on the basis of good and fair business, and serving the interest of the general public," he said.
Therefore, he added, various policies had been improved to meet the need for funding by the mobilization of private funds and a revision of Presidential Decree no 67 of 2005 into Presidential Decree No 13 of 2010.
Under the revised decree, businesses are given facilities and access for participation in the building of infrastructure projects in the country.
And by the revised decree, the government has also referred to risk sharing in the management of land for investment according to international standards.
Jakarta, April 15 (ANTARA) - Seen as a project that will bring countries in Asia closer to each other, a plan to build a bridge over the Sunda Strait to link Java and Sumatra islands has won the Indonesian government's full support.
When completed, the bridge across the Sunda Strait will connect Merak Port on the western tip of Java with Bakauheni Port in Sumatra, and thereby also alleviate chronic traffic congestion at the Merak-Bakauheni ferry crossing.
The concept of a Java-Sumatra bridge first emerged in the 1960s, and the idea was revived in the 1980s but could also not take off because of the 1997 Asian economic crisis.
But the government now fully supports the plan to build the bridge based on a precise and accurate plan, because it is expected to ensure smooth transportation of goods and people from Java to Sumatra vice versa and encourage economic growth on two of Indonesia's major islands.
Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah had said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had also thrown his weight behind the mega project.
In his opening address at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Government-Private Sector Cooperation in Infrastructure Development 2010 at the Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemayoran area on Thursday, President Yudhoyono said the government had opened the widest opportunities for private businesses to take part in the construction of various infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including the Sunda Strait bridge.
The president said he believed the building of the Sunda Strait bridge would have a very great impact on economic growth in Asia.
"Considering the importance of private sector participation in realizing the major project, the Indonesian government is offering the building of the Sunda Strait bridge in the book on Public Private Partnership: Infrastructure Projects in Indonesia 2010-2014," the head of state said.
The President said the government had prepared the necessary infrastructure networks of the Sunda Strait bridge which will link Java and Sumatra islands and be integrated with its surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, a National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) official said here on Tuesday that the construction of the Sunda Strait bridge would start in early or mid-2012.
"We estimate, it can be started early or in the middle of 2012 so it can be completed in 2017 or 2018," Deddy Priatna, Bappenas deputy chief for facility and infrastructure affairs, said after a coordination meeting at the office of the coordinating minister for economic affairs on Jalan Lapangan Banteng, Central Jakarta.
He said the construction of the bridge over the Sunda strait needed various preparations, including the making of a feasibility study and the bridge's design.
"It will take around 1.5 years to complete the feasibility study, while the design of the bridge will be completed in 2012," Deddy Priatna said.
He said a Sunda Strait Bridge Development National Team had already been formed on the basis of a Presidential Regulation (Perpres).
"But a working group must also be formed in accordance with a coordinating minister for economic affairs' decision which is expected to be issued next week," Deddy said.
Commenting on the funding of the project with a loan from China, Deddy said the loan of US$10 billion was a very big amount.
"It is a very big amount for the government to bear while in fact the project is supposed to be funded through a partnership between the government and the private sector," he said.
Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said on a separate occasion the government was really serious in planning the construction of the Sunda Strait bridge.
Djoko Kirmanto said the decision on the formation of working team had yet to be signed by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa.
"The team will prepare the plan, study its feasibility in detail," Djoko Kirmanto said.
Besides the project, President Yudhoyono also said the government had applied a two-lane policy in the last few years which had successfully facilitated and accelerated the building of infrastructure projects and facilitated the building of partnership between the government and private businesses.
Under this pattern the government has decided that the building of infrastructure with State Budget funding in the first lane, and the government inviting private businesses to take part in the building of infrastructure, in the second lane.
"By way of the two lanes, the building of infrastructure is aimed at strengthening domestic connectivity especially in the islands," he added.
He also said that one of the priority programs in the building of infrastructure will be focused on road and bridge construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance especially on the trans highways in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi,West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua by 2014.
The President on the occasion also pointed to some of the successful infrastructure projects in Indonesia including the extension of national roads from 343 thousand kilometers in 2004 to 391 thousand kilometers in 2009.
In addition, in the border regions roads 670.2 kilometers and 571.8 kilometers long had been built in the outer islands.
He also said that the Indonesian government have taken the necessary and comprehensive measures to promote the investment climate.
"I have always supported the participation of private businesses in the procurement of infrastructure projects on the basis of good and fair business, and serving the interest of the general public," he said.
Therefore, he added, various policies had been improved to meet the need for funding by the mobilization of private funds and a revision of Presidential Decree no 67 of 2005 into Presidential Decree No 13 of 2010.
Under the revised decree, businesses are given facilities and access for participation in the building of infrastructure projects in the country.
And by the revised decree, the government has also referred to risk sharing in the management of land for investment according to international standards.
