Indonesia’s New Capital Nusantara Faces Skepticism Amid Slow Progress
Four years into the construction of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, on Borneo island, significant doubts persist regarding its viability and timeline. Designed to replace the sinking, overcrowded Jakarta, the futuristic city aims to be sustainable and technologically advanced. However, with only 10,000 residents currently inhabiting the core area against a target of over one million in the next four years, critics fear it may become a ghost city. Essential infrastructure, including toll roads, schools, and legislative buildings, remains incomplete or under construction. Project head Basuki Hadimuljono defends the timeline, asserting that economic activity will surge once the president and civil servants relocate by 2028. Meanwhile, early residents, primarily young civil servants, report challenges such as limited food options and entertainment. Additionally, indigenous communities like the Balik tribe express concerns over land rights and displacement. The project represents a massive multibillion-dollar experiment in urban planning, balancing ambitious environmental goals with practical logistical hurdles and social tensions.
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Indonesia’s New Capital Nusantara Faces Skepticism Amid Slow Progress
Four years into the construction of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, on Borneo island, significant doubts persist regarding its viability and timeline. Designed to replace the sinking, overcrowded Jakarta, the futuristic city aims to be sustainable and technologically advanced. However, with only 10,000 residents currently inhabiting the core area against a target of over one million in the next four years, critics fear it may become a ghost city. Essential infrastructure, including toll roads, schools, and legislative buildings, remains incomplete or under construction. Project head Basuki Hadimuljono defends the timeline, asserting that economic activity will surge once the president and civil servants relocate by 2028. Meanwhile, early residents, primarily young civil servants, report challenges such as limited food options and entertainment. Additionally, indigenous communities like the Balik tribe express concerns over land rights and displacement. The project represents a massive multibillion-dollar experiment in urban planning, balancing ambitious environmental goals with practical logistical hurdles and social tensions.
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