Consortium for bridge construction over Sunda strait to be set up

The Jakarta Post

SERANG, Banten (Antara): The provincial governments of Banten and Lampung will soon set up a joint consortium for the development of a 29-km bridge over the Sunda Strait which will connect the Java island with Sumatra, chairman of Banten's Regional Legislative Council (DPRD), Ady Surya, said on Sunday.

"It is estimated that the bridge would be built at a cost of Rp 17.85 trillion," Surya said.

He said that the agreement to set up a joint consortium was reached during a meeting between Banten regional government officials and Lampung Governor Sachroedin ZP recently.

"Since 2004, the Lampung government already has the intention to invite the president, the finance minister, the chairman of National Development Planning Board (Bapennas) and the public works minister to discuss the plan," he said.

Unluckily, the plan has been delayed since then because it did not receive response from the Banten government, Surya said.

"Thanks God, in the current era of the new Banten governor we once again try to encourage the development of the bridge. We hope that the two local governments would have coordination meeting on the establishment of the consortium next month," headded.

Banten's DPRD Deputy Chairman Sadeli Kariem said a public expose on the development of the bridge would be conducted before the government officials of Lampung and Banten, and relevant ministers at the Banten DPRD building, hopefully next month.

"The presentation will be held to gain support and to obtain inputs from various sides over the plan to develop the Sunda Strait bridge," he added.

He said that after the presentation, the two regional government officials would hold a coordination meeting to discuss their respective roles in the bridge development.

The Sunda Strait is one of the busiest waterway in Indonesia which links the two islands' economic and social activities.