New Capital Development Plans, Senator Of Central Kalimantan Reminded About The Trans Kalimantan Railway

Palace designs in the new capital (Photo: capture screen on Twitter upload @jokowi)

JAKARTA - The discourse on relocating the State Capital (IKN) to East Kalimantan is getting stronger and more real. After President Jokowi showed off the pre-designed State Palace which is planned to be built in the new capital. In fact, it is hoped that this year the construction process can begin soon.

Senator of the DPD RI from Central Kalimantan, Agustin Teras Narang, assessed that the government needs to integrate this plan with the strengthening of the Trans Kalimantan road and rail infrastructure. This is to connect the 5 provinces on the island optimally.

"The central government should align the discourse on IKN development with the development and quality improvement of Trans Kalimantan roads. We also urge that the construction of the Kalimantan railway infrastructure can begin", Teras Narang said in his statement, Tuesday, April 6.

The former Governor of Central Kalimantan said that the 5 Governors throughout Kalimantan had submitted this proposal to President Joko Widodo about infrastructure in early 2015. According to him, the integration of transportation routes is one of the keys to strengthening the positive impact of the IKN development in East Kalimantan for the entire region.

"So that the development of infrastructure connectivity can increase the prosperity and welfare of the people on the island of Kalimantan", said Teras.

Teras assessed that the construction of road and rail infrastructure will strengthen the strategy to drive Indonesia's economic transformation in 2021. Through domestic economic integration and relocation of IKN as a new source of growth and a balancing economy between regions, also for control of Kalimantan natural resource products.

"Control of natural resources will also be easier to do systematically so that the potential leakage of state revenue can be overcome. Meanwhile, the uniqueness of the landscape can be managed as a separate tourist destination, "he explained.

Therefore, Teras hopes that this integration can be carried out as harmonization of development with efforts to protect Kalimantan as the lungs of the world. Where areas whose environment and biodiversity also need to be preserved.

"We support the efforts of President Jokowi and his staff in moving the IKN, to bring the good of the nation. However, the aspirations and good impacts for the people of Kalimantan cannot be ignored", he said.

Previously, President Jokowi published the pre-designed State Palace which was planned to be built in the new capital.

Jokowi shared the pre-design through a 2-minute video uploaded through the official Twitter account of the President @Jokowi.

"One of the proposals for the re-design of an iconic building in the new nation's capital is the State Palace by Nyoman Nuarta", said Jokowi, Friday, April 2.

One of the proposed designs for iconic buildings in the nation's new capital was Nyoman Nuarta's State Palace. I look forward to hearing from all of you on predesign. I hope that this State Palace will be the pride of the nation, as well as reflect the progress of the nation. pic.twitter.com/IHoyE0uLQZ

- Joko Widodo (@jokowi) April 2, 2021

Then the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has also released 5 strategies to drive Indonesia's economic transformation in 2021.

The 6 strategies include creating competitive human resources, increasing the productivity of the economic sector, digital transformation, domestic economic integration, and moving IKN as a new source of growth and a balancing economy between regions.