Indonesia relocating capital from sinking Jakarta to Borneo jungle

Summary

Indonesia's parliament passed a bill to relocate the nation's capital from the sinking city of Jakarta to Borneo's island, where a new city named Nusantara will be developed. Set to cover over 56,000 hectares, Nusantara aims to become an eco-friendly, smart city. The move is part of a plan to reduce Jakarta's overpopulation, severe environmental challenges, and traffic issues. Although construction was delayed by the pandemic, the project is expected to begin in 2022 and span five stages until 2045. Estimated at $32 billion, the relocation hopes to help redistribute wealth and improve Indonesia's regional development.

Takeaways

• 😀 Indonesia's parliament passed a bill to relocate the capital from Jakarta to Borneo on January 18.
• 🌍 The new city will be called Nusantara, a Javanese word meaning 'archipelago'.
• 🏙️ Nusantara will span 56,180 hectares in East Kalimantan province, with 256,142 hectares reserved for future expansion.
• 🔋 The city is planned to be an eco-friendly, smart city designed to be a model for sustainable living.
• 🛑 Initial construction was set to begin in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 🏗️ The project will be developed in five stages, starting in 2022 and continuing until 2045.
• 💰 The project's estimated cost is around 32 billion US dollars, though the full budget details are yet to be released.
• 🌏 Jakarta, currently home to 30 million people, faces severe issues including overpopulation, traffic congestion, air pollution, and sinking due to land subsidence.
• 📉 Jakarta is one of the fastest-sinking cities in the world, with experts predicting that most of North Jakarta could be submerged by 2050.
• 🏘️ The government hopes the relocation will ease pressure on Jakarta and help distribute wealth more evenly across Indonesia's regions.

Q & A

Why is Indonesia relocating its capital?

Indonesia is relocating its capital to address the challenges faced by Jakarta, which is one of the fastest sinking cities in the world, plagued by severe traffic congestion, air pollution, and flooding.

Where will the new capital, Nusantara, be located?

The new capital, Nusantara, will be located on the island of Borneo, in the East Kalimantan province of Indonesia.

What does 'Nusantara' mean in Javanese?

Nusantara is a Javanese word that means 'archipelago'.

What are the expected environmental goals of Nusantara's design?

Nusantara is being designed as a utopian and eco-friendly smart city, reflecting sustainability and advanced urban planning principles.

What are the major challenges Jakarta faces, prompting the move?

Jakarta faces severe flooding, rapid sinking, and traffic congestion, making it increasingly uninhabitable. North Jakarta is expected to be submerged by 2050.

What is the estimated size of the new capital, Nusantara?

Nusantara will cover approximately 56,180 hectares in East Kalimantan province.

When is the construction of Nusantara expected to start?

Construction of Nusantara was originally planned to begin in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first stage began in 2022, with the project set to be completed by 2045.

How much is the relocation project estimated to cost?

The estimated cost of the Nusantara relocation project is around 32 billion US dollars.

How will relocating the capital benefit Indonesia’s economy?

Relocating the capital is expected to reduce the burden on the Jakarta metropolitan area and help redistribute wealth to other regions of Indonesia.

What are the stages of development for Nusantara?

The development of Nusantara will take place in five stages, starting in 2022 and continuing until 2045.