Dismissing Stalled Issues, Deputy Minister of Public Works Confirms Work on the New Capital City Project Will Continue Until 2026

Deputy Minister of Public Works, Diana Kusumastuti (photo: Ministry of Public Works)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Public Works (PU), Diana Kusumastuti, emphasized that her ministry will continue working on the development of the Indonesian National Capital City (IKN), located in East Kalimantan.

She emphasized that her ministry still has a multi-year contract from 2025 to 2026, even though authority for the IKN has been transferred to the IKN Authority (OIKN).

"Yes, the OIKN will continue. But the framing is that PU no longer exists. There are still 2025 and 2026 contracts," she said on Wednesday, August 27.

She explained that the multi-year contract signed by the Ministry of PU covers toll road construction and other projects.

"Yes, because the funding for the MYC is tied up. It's related to toll roads and other issues, it still exists. Don't frame it as non-existent," she continued.

Despite still having a ton of work to do, Diana stated that the Ministry of PU will not add any new projects in the IKN area.

"But we're not adding any more funds for new activities," Diana added.

As for new projects, she said, they will be carried out by the IKN Authority to focus development. Originally, a number of projects were supposed to be handled by the Ministry of Public Works, but after the OIKN was established, authority was delegated to the agency led by former PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimulyo.

"Recent projects will be handled by the IKN Authority. They already have their own agency. Previously, there wasn't a separate agency, the Ministry of Public Works. But now that the IKN Authority exists, it's been delegated to focus," she concluded.