Madura bridge project to start this year
Madura bridge project to start this year
JAKARTA (JP): Eight ministers, a number of high ranking officials, Japanese company executives and military officers gathered at the Ministry of Public Works yesterday to finalize plans on the development of the Suramadu bridge which will connect Surabaya and Madura island.
After chairing the meeting, State Minister of Research Technology B.J. Habibie told journalists that the construction of the Suramadu bridge will commence this year.
"Initially, we planned to start construction next August. But, since there are some technical problems like incomplete data from the results of a study on the environmental impacts, we might not be able to start it in August as planned. But for sure, we will start later this year," Habibie said.
Official data show that the project will be 80 percent financed by Japan's Overseas Economic Corporation Fund, 12 percent by an Indonesian-Japanese consortium and eight percent by the central bank (Bank Indonesia).
The Japanese companies represented in yesterday's meeting included Mitsubishi Corp., Itochu Corp. and Long-Term Credit Bank. The Indonesian companies included PT Bukaka Teknik Utama, industrial estate in East Java PT SIER, state-owned shipbuilding company PT PAL and steel producer PT Krakatau Steel.
Bridge construction will cost Rp 450 billion (US$205 million) but another Rp 35 billion will be needed for the procurement of bridge machinery and Rp 15 billion for the procurement of toll equipment.
Construction of the Suramadu bridge, which will span six kilometers from Surabaya to Madura island, was in the balance as the government and Madurese locals failed to reach a final agreement.
A number of local ulemas, including the influential kyai (Islamic scholar), Alawi Muhammad, have voiced their objection to the bridge project which will beget industrialization of the island.
Habibie has said that construction of the bridge will only be feasible if it is followed by the development of some industrial estates and housing complexes on the island.
When asked about local concern, Habibie promised that the government would consider all aspects pertinent to the development of the island, including the local people's interests.
"The government and the local ulemas have the same mission; we want to improve the welfare of the people. So, actually there are no fundamental differences between the government and the local ulemas," Habibie said.
Sharing Habibie's view, East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman said the government will take into account the local ulemas' concern that the industrialization in the island not affect the mental and spiritual life of the Madurese.
Chief of East Java Military Staff Brigadier General Slamet S.T. noted that the local Armed Forces are ready to guard the development of the bridge and the industrialization of the island.
Construction of the bridge, industrial estates and housing complexes, said Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar, is expected to be completed within three to four years.
He conceded that a number of state companies under his supervision, including toll-road operator PT Jasa Marga, will participate in the construction of the bridge.
Also on hand at yesterday's meeting were Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S.M., Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto, Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tandjung, State Minister of Agrarian Affairs Soni Harsono, State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and M. Noer, former East Java governor. (rid)