JP\/5\/suramadu<\/p>\n
Megawati set to launch Suramadu construction<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nSurabaya<\/p>\n
After several delays, President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated
\non Wednesday to launch the construction of the giant Suramadu
\nbridge to connect the islands of Java and Madura in East Java.<\/p>\n
However, land acquisition for the long-awaited project has not
\nyet been finalized, as the landowners have demanded more
\nexpensive prices.<\/p>\n
But the government could still go ahead with the plan, East
\nJava Governor Imam Utomo said.
\n "Hopefully, the land will be cleared for construction as soon
\nas possible," he added.<\/p>\n
Megawati will officiate the ceremony to install the first
\nconcrete pillars for the country's longest bridge.<\/p>\n
The bridge, which will be 5.4 kilometers long and 30 meters
\nwide, will cost Rp 2.3 trillion (US$270 million) and is expected
\nto take around four years to build.<\/p>\n
In the hope that operations will run smoothly, project
\ncoordinators embraced a Javanese spiritual tradition on Tuesday,
\nby burying a buffalo head wrapped in a white cloth at the place
\nthe concrete pillars will be installed.<\/p>\n
The traditional ceremony was followed by a prayer session on
\nTuesday night, which was attended by East Java Governor Imam
\nUtomo, Surabaya Mayor Bambang D.H. and more than 1,000 ulema and
\ncommunity leaders from Surabaya and Madura.<\/p>\n
The local administration finished preparations on Tuesday
\nmorning for the arrival of Megawati.<\/p>\n
"East Java is really well prepared to carry out the
\nconstruction of the huge project," Utomo said.<\/p>\n
The Minister of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure,
\nSoenarno, has said that the much anticipated bridge requires 7.85
\nhectares of land in Surabaya, Java, and 35 hectares in Madura.
\nThe land acquisition is handled by the East Java administration.<\/p>\n
The Rp 2.3 trillion for the project will be allotted from the
\nstate budget and East Java's budget.<\/p>\n
The Chinese government has agreed to provide a loan of Rp 1.5
\ntrillion to build the bridge.<\/p>\n
State-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga has also
\ncontributed Rp 300 billion to the bridge project which was
\ndesigned in 1990.<\/p>\n
The project has been delayed several times because of the
\ncurrent economic crisis. Also, certain Muslim groups in Madura
\nhad opposed the construction, in fear that it would create more
\nsocial problems on the island.<\/p>\n
It's feasibility study and detailed design were completed last
\nyear. The study was conducted by experts from the ministry, the
\nprovincial government, the Surabaya Institute of Technology and
\nthe Pembangunan National Veteran University in Surabaya.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5suramadu-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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