Contruction of Batam-Bintan Bridge to Start in 2018

Jumat, 12 Mei 2017 19:47 WIB

President Joko Widodo has put this project in priority. This is an important project. The island of Tanjungsauh will be a port of transit after its status is changed into a free trade zone

Batam (Antara Kepri) - The Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry and the Batam Executive Body (BP Batam) will start construction of 7-kilometer bridge project spanning the sea between Batam and Bintan islands in Riau Island province.

"Construction will start in 2018 . The first phase of construction will begin from Batam to the Island of Tanjungsauh spanning a distance of 2.124 kilometer," Deputy IV of BP Batam Purba Robert M Sianipar said here on Friday.

The first phase of construction to link Kabil of Batam and Tanjungsauh is estimated to cost Rp1.5 trillion-Rp1.8 trillion.

"President Joko Widodo has put this project in priority. This is an important project. The island of Tanjungsauh will be a port of transit after its status is changed into a free trade zone," Robert said.

He said the PUPR Ministry will help finding investors to build the project. "We will cooperate with investor. Until now investors still hesitate to be involved in the project over disagreement on the period of investment fund return.However, we hope we could start in 2018," he said, adding studies including on soil contour has all been wrapped up.

The second phase of construction from Tanjungsauh to the island of Buau 4.056 kilometer long and the third phase a 855.3 meters bridge to the city of Tanjunguban on the Bintan island , would follow immediately after the completion of the first phase.

"We will continue to seek that the Tanjungsauh port could be built soon, but first we start with bridge to provide access," Robert said.

BP Batam has over the past several years sought investor to build the Tanjungsauh port with a capacity of 4 million TEUs. Tanjungsauh is expected to become a port to provide a fair rival for Singapore and Johor of Malaysia.

BP Batam also plans to build a new toll road to link the port with a number of industrial estates on the island.(Antara)

Editor: Niko

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