Nusantara, Indonesia's future capital, has been opened for visits. Located on the island of Kalimantan, the under-construction city is now offering guided tours.
Participation in these unique trips is free, but visitors must register in advance through the IKNOW app (available in the App Store and Play Store). Only 300 visitors per day are allowed.
“I’m thrilled to visit Nusantara for the first time. It’s a fantastic opportunity to witness the city’s development firsthand,” shared Francesca, a participant. Tourists are taken around the city in comfortable electric buses, with one highlight being the future presidential residence — the Garuda Palace.
President Joko Widodo previously announced that construction of the new capital will take 10-15 years, with about 20% of the planned work already completed. The idea to relocate the capital from Jakarta was introduced by Widodo in 2019. Initially, the plan was for the megacity to be completed by this year, with nearly $32 billion allocated for the project. However, due to the pandemic, construction was delayed. In January 2022, the president announced that the new capital would be named Nusantara, which translates to "archipelago."
On August 17, an official ceremony was held in the futuristic city to mark Indonesia’s Independence Day. Widodo led the first cabinet meeting there and described Nusantara as "a canvas where the future will be painted."
“Not every country has the opportunity or ability to build its capital from scratch,” Widodo emphasized.
The president explained that Nusantara is being developed as a "forest city" full of greenery, rather than a capital made of concrete and glass. At the same time, it is envisioned as a smart city, full of technology, where life will be enjoyable. Indonesia’s president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, has promised to complete the construction of Nusantara and is ready to relocate to the new capital.
Sources: The official website of Nusantara
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