While the world's attention is drawn to Tonga, the Indonesian government has quietly done a big thing. According to the Global Network reported on January 18, the Indonesian government has decided to move the capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan Province, and gave the new capital a rather awkward name.
Imagine a map of the new capital
After the passage of a series of relevant laws, the relocation of Indonesia's huge capital will officially start in 2024, costing a total of 233.9 billion yuan. For Indonesia's finances, this is definitely not a small amount of money, not to mention the uninterrupted infrastructure investment in the decades after the relocation of the capital.
The reason why it cost money and effort to move the capital is because Jakarta is already overwhelmed. Over the past few decades, Jakarta has played the role not only as a political center, but also as the economic and cultural center of Indonesia. As early as the colonial era, Jakarta was indonesia's largest city.
Jakarta slums
Although it was growing fast, the colonial government was reluctant to spend too much time on urban planning. This has also led to the spectacle of the Indonesian city of Jakarta: with rows of high-rise buildings on one side and low, dilapidated slums on the other. Big but not refined became synonymous with the city.
In order to make a living, countless Indonesians have moved to Jakarta one after another. Jakarta's population has also exploded. The population, which far exceeds its carrying capacity, provides a demographic dividend for its economic development on the one hand, and on the other hand, it also contributes to the deterioration of Jakarta's environment.
The main road in Jakarta at its peak
Traffic congestion, air pollution, these big city diseases, constantly torment the city. Jakarta's environment does not match the name of Indonesia's first city.
In addition to man-made disasters, natural disasters are another reason why the Indonesian government has to move the capital. Jakarta is close to the sea and is not high above sea level. The sea was slightly windy, and the flood hit Jakarta. Due to the flat terrain of the city, after the waves cross the embankment, they will be poured inland.
Flooding the streets of Jakarta
In addition to waves and floods, Jakarta, which is located at the junction of plates, is often plagued by geological disasters. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters threaten Jakarta from time to time. The vulnerability of modern metropolises to natural disasters has been exposed, and Jakarta has become a veritable capital of danger.
A new capital will rise from the ground
Discussions about the relocation of Indonesia's capital have been discussed in china for many years. However, due to the impact of the epidemic, the relocation of the capital, which was originally scheduled for 2019, was also postponed to 2024. After completing the preparations for the first phase of the relocation, Indonesia will enter the 20-year construction phase of the new capital. Important nodes such as railways, ports, and airports will be completed within 20 years.
The harm caused by the recent volcanic eruption in Tonga is still vividly remembered. With Tonga as a precedent, Indonesia also had to consider moving its capital to a safer island in central Indonesia.
Editor: Wu Jialun