South Korea Lyrics IKN Underwater Toll Project, When Will It Start Construction?

Secretary General of the Ministry of PUPR Mohammad Zainal Fatah. Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) said that the underwater toll road project in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) began to be looked at by South Korea (South Korea).

This was conveyed by the Secretary General (Sekjen) of the Ministry of PUPR Mohammad Zainal Fatah.

He said that currently the underwater toll road project is still in the feasibility study (FS) stage.

"You need a study, it's not easy," said Zainal Fatah, quoted on Wednesday, October 2.

Zainal Fatah explained that the study was currently being carried out with South Korea.

The reason is, South Korea is currently one of the countries that already has an underwater toll road to connect Boryeong, South Chungcheong with Taean.

After successfully building an underwater toll road in his country, South Korea is now said to be interested in building an underwater toll road that will be in IKN.

"The IKN underwater toll road is responsible for finding (investors), we continue to communicate with Korea. Korea (in addition to working on studies) is also interested (executed)," he said.

In addition to collaborating on deepening research related to underwater toll roads, the Ministry of PUPR is also working with South Korea to develop IKN as a new city designed with the smart city concept.

"We continue to communicate. We learn from many countries how to build a new city. Korea is Sejong, we also train our staff about smart cities," he added.

Previously, it was informed that the construction of the IKN underwater toll tunnel would require a jumbo budget of IDR 11 trillion.

Director of Road Development of the Directorate General of Highways of the Ministry of PUPR Wida Nurfaida said, in its grand plan, this project will be carried out in collaboration with the South Korean Government.

"We convey that the estimated cost for the settlement of the prospective tunnel is approximately Rp. 11 trillion or US$682 million," Wida said in his presentation at the Indonesia-Korea Technical Exchange Seminar 2024 at the PUPR Ministry office, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 7.

Wida said that the construction of the Immersed tunnel was included in the draft construction of the IKN Toll Road for the 4A and 4B segments in the eastern area.

"All (toll roads) are already in the process of being worked on, except for the 4A and 4B segments. In which there is an herded tunnel development plan which is planned to be collaborated with the Korean government," he said.