Academic says IKN and Kertajati reflect crisis in planning culture

Professor Harun Al Rasyid Lubis from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) assesses that Indonesia is experiencing a crisis in planning culture, resulting in several strategic projects, including the Nusantara Capital (IKN) and Kertajati Airport, losing direction. Harun spotlights the contradiction between the government’s ambitious targets, such as Net Zero Emission (NZE) 2060 and the development of the Nusantara Capital (IKN), with the often fragmented technical realities on the ground. “Planning exists, there is plenty. Jakarta wants 60 percent public transport, perhaps West Java next. Those are all plans,” Harun said when met after a discussion on strategic infrastructure in Bandung on Friday. According to him, the development of IKN emerged suddenly in the law without being preceded by a solid urban planning foundation, including in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). Besides IKN, Harun cited the operational failure of Kertajati Airport in West Java. In his view, the issues at the airport stem from immature feasibility studies. “Thus, there is a mismatch between the infrastructure built and market needs,” he said. Another fundamental weakness, Harun continued, is the absence of a strong oversight institution or “referee” to bridge various sectoral egos between the central government, provinces, and regions. Harun urged a clear separation between regulatory and operational functions in every infrastructure project to ensure accountability. “One regulates, looks to the future, plans. The other operates. Don’t combine them,” Harun stated, emphasising the importance of independence in control functions so that implementation remains consistent with the initial plan.