Kuwait govt to fund Suramadu bridge

Kuwait govt to fund Suramadu bridge

SURABAYA: The Kuwaiti government has allocated Rp 1.5 trillion (US$168 million) to help fund the construction of the Suramadu bridge in East Java, connecting the islands of Java and Madura.

The financial assistance will cover more than half of the proposed Rp 2.3 trillion budget for the construction of the bridge.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo said on Friday the foreign aid would be disbursed in three installments of Rp 500 million beginning next year.

Domestic funding will come from the state budget, state toll road operator PT Jasa Marga and the provincial budget.

Imam said the provincial government, as well as the local governments in the Bangkalan regency and the Surabaya mayoralty, would be responsible for land clearing and other preliminary work on the project.

"Everything has been settled now and the project can get underway," Imam said. -- JP