The President Returns to Visit IKN at the End of May, Ensures Readiness Ahead of the Republic of Indonesia's Independence Day Celebration

The government claims that the progress of IKN development has reached 81 percent. Observers remind that evaluation must continue.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Morning atmosphere in the Nusantara Capital development area, East Kalimantan, Monday (1/1/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government is optimistic that a number of basic infrastructure in the capital city of Nusantara will be ready to operate ahead of the ceremony commemorating the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia on August 17. To date, the progress of basic infrastructure development at IKN is said to have reached 81 percent. A number of projects are targeted to operate from June to early August.

In order to ensure the readiness of the Indonesian Capital City (IKN) ahead of the August 17 ceremony, President Joko Widodo will visit IKN again at the end of May. ”It was planned that way, for the sixth groundbreaking. "The time is estimated to be after the World Water Forum event in Bali," said IKN Authority Public Communications Expert Troy Pantouw when contacted from Jakarta, Thursday (9/5/2024).

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) stated that the progress of the basic infrastructure development of IKN is now at 81%. "God willing, everything will be ready gradually to welcome the 17th of August 2024 ceremony," said Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono when visiting IKN on Monday (6/5/2024).

BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/MUCHLIS JR

President Joko Widodo inspects the ceremonial grounds and the Presidential Palace in the Archipelago Capital area, East Kalimantan, Thursday (29/2/2024).

Public policy lecturer at Airlangga University, Surabaya, Gitadi Tegas Supramudyo, reminded the government to continuously evaluate the development of the IKN by involving neutral and credible parties. This is because the development of the IKN is a very big policy. On the other hand, the potential for failure in moving the capital city is also quite high.

Regarding the failure to move the national capital, continued Gitadi, this has happened in a number of other countries. "Therefore, there is a need for on-going evaluation of IKN. "The government's one-sided optimism should involve other parties who are credible and sufficiently neutral or independent," he said.

The evaluation team should not only involve internal government circles, but also experts from related fields from universities, the community, and civil society organizations that understand the culture and issues around the IKN.

Failure to move the nation's capital has occurred in a number of other countries. Therefore, there is a need for on-going evaluation of IKN. One-sided optimism from the government should involve other parties who are credible and sufficiently neutral and independent.

According to Gitadi, it is important to separate the claims of development progress that have reached 81 percent and the success of the capital city relocation itself. This is because the public tends to not receive enough information related to the parameters of the state capital relocation's success.

The government also needs to take a serious look at the failure to move capital cities in several other countries. "On-going evaluation of all important matters related to the transfer of IKN by credible and independent elements/experts so that they are carefully and carefully scrutinized, yes, it doesn't have to be 'forced' for the sake of the 2024 independence anniversary if it is indeed the element's recommendation "This expert is not yet possible," explained Gitadi.

Ready to operate

A number of other targeted projects are ready to operate before the celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day, including the Sepaku water treatment plant, transmission and distribution pipeline network, and the 2 x 6,000 liter water reservoir in the Central Government Core Area of the Indonesia's New Capital City (IKN).

Apart from that, the 26 kilometer multi-utility tunnel and the Sepaku Semoi Dam. Sepaku Semoi Dam is projected to be fully filled with a volume of 16 million cubic meters by the end of May 2024.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

The information board for the Sepaku Intake project, located adjacent to the residential area in the Sepaku Village, Sepaku District, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, on Sunday (31/12/2023).

Basuki revealed that the progress of constructing the ceremony field, Plaza Ceremony, has reached 90 percent. The construction of the Presidential Palace has also approached 70 percent, and the Presidential Office building is at 83 percent. The target for the completion of the Presidential Palace and Presidential Office is July 2024.

Apart from that, the construction of flats for civil servants totaling 10 towers will be completed in July 2024. Construction of the minister's official housing has also entered the final stage and is targeted for completion in July 2024. Basuki also had the opportunity to visit his official residence at IKN which is located in District 107 and neighbors the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.

Also read: IKN Development Still Requires Public Input

Basuki also expressed optimism that the construction of the IKN toll road phase I, which spans 27 kilometers, will be completed by July 2024. The toll road can be operational before the celebration of Indonesian Independence Day on August 17, 2024, which will be held in IKN.

"Along the 27 kilometers, it starts from Kariangau to Pulau Balang Bridge. That is what we will optimize and utilize on August 17th. At least one lane from Kariangau to Pulau Balang, with three lanes," said Basuki during his visit to the development of the IKN toll road on Tuesday (May 7, 2024).

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Vehicle traffic in the capital city of the archipelago, East Kalimantan, Saturday (30/12/2023).

The construction of the IKN toll road is currently underway in three sections, namely Section 3A Karangjoang-KKT Kariangau (13.4 kilometers) which primarily involves the completion of the Wain River Bridge. Then, the completion of Section 3B KKT Kariangau-Simpang Tempadung (7.3 kilometers) and Section 5A Simpang Tempadung-Pulau Balang Bridge (6.7 kilometers). Some of them have already been paved. In the future, this toll road will also reduce travel time from Balikpapan to KIPP IKN from the current 2 hours to 45 minutes.

On Tuesday (7/5/2024), the Head of IKN Authority, Bambang Susantono, accompanied the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, on a visit to the IKN area. Luhut reviewed the access to the IKN toll road segments 3A and 3B by air, followed by observing the access to the IKN toll road segment 5A, the IKN logistics dock, and the IKN VVIP airport by land routes.

After that, Luhut held a meeting at the Keet VVIP Airport Board of Directors to discuss development progress. "We hope that on August 17 the ceremony will be able to be held here. There are still a few things that are not good. But, I think it's a process problem, 80 percent can be completed by August 17 (2024). "The Airport will be able to land and can accommodate three aircraft until August 17 (2024), but it will take approximately one year to complete," he said.

Luhut also departed for KIPP to see the progress of the construction of the President's Palace and parade ground. Head of IKN Authority Bambang Susantono stated that logistics access, such as toll roads, airplanes by building airports, and bridges, are the main focus in development in IKN. "Because this will accelerate mobilization and time efficiency, especially our initial target is August 17th, 2024," he said.

When checking the progress of the construction of IKN airport on Tuesday (23/4/2024), Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi affirmed that the project is still according to plan and being executed properly. "Seeing its development, I am optimistic that this airport can be tested in July," said the minister.