Indonesia strives to improve infrastructure as MotoGP approaches

Jakarta, January 14 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Government is continuing to improve supporting infrastructures at Mandalika Circuit, Central Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, field coordinator for the 2022 Mandalika MotoGP Preparation, Air Marshal (Ret.) Hadi Tjahjanto, has said. "There are a number of infrastructures to be improved, including the bypass road from Zainuddin Abdul Madjid Lombok International Airport to the end of the Sunggu Roundabout," he pointed out at the airport on Thursday (Jan 13). The Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry will also beautify the area around the circuit and the bypass road, including people’s homes, he said. Within the circuit area, a number of improvements have been made to the circuit’s first tier (paddock area), second tier (the circuit), and third tier (spectator areas), he informed. Furthermore, the event field coordinator also touched upon the availability of accommodation places. "The total accommodation in Lombok is only 16 thousand hotel rooms. Thus, considering that we are selling about 63,500 tickets, we will add the number of accommodations," he said. To overcome the accommodation shortage, the Transportation Ministry will prepare 'phinisi' ships (Sulawesi schooners) for visitors. "There will be 700 ships. If each ship has an average of 5 rooms, there will be additional 3,500 lodging units. Furthermore, PUPR Ministry has also established about 300 homestays,” he noted. Meanwhile, regarding transport facilities, the Transportation Ministry will provide shuttle buses to the circuit for the public, he said. "Furthermore, flight schedules from Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, and Makassar will be added. Thus, the audience can be facilitated to go to the Mandalika Circuit to watch the 2022 MotoGP," Tjahjanto added. Until now, there have been no significant obstacles to preparing the infrastructure for the event, he said. "However, we will continue to coordinate closely. I expect the problems I have mentioned before can be resolved soon, thus we can complete all infrastructure earlier in March 2022,” he added. The 2022 Mandalika MotoGP is scheduled to be held from March 18–20, 2022.