Indonesia's new capital is taking shape

According to the AP news agency, the new capital, named Nusantara National Capital, is intended to replace the current capital, Jakarta, which according to Indonesian President Joko Widodo is too congested, polluted, prone to earthquakes and is rapidly sinking into the Java Sea.

Construction began in mid-2022, with the project spanning an area twice the size of New York City. Indonesian officials envision a futuristic green city that will feature forests, parks, food production using renewable energy, smart waste management, and green buildings.

Digital models shared by the government show the city surrounded by forests, with tree-lined sidewalks, building rooftops covered in plants...

The architecture of the buildings is inspired by modern urban towers combined with traditional architecture, such as the Presidential Palace shaped like a garuda - a mythical bird that is the national symbol of Indonesia - and other buildings that reflect the architectural styles of the archipelago's ethnic minority groups.

Thủ đô mới của Indonesia đang thành hình - Ảnh 1.

Construction workers at the area that will be the core of government offices of the Nusantara National Capital (IKN) in Sepaku, East Kalimantan province - Indonesia on March 8. Photo: REUTERS

Indonesia's Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said in February that the city's infrastructure was about 14% complete, with construction of key buildings such as the Presidential Palace expected to be completed by August 2024.

About 7,000 workers are currently building the first structures of the project. Indonesia also provides a website that displays a map of the new capital with QR codes that, when scanned, will display a projected 3D image of the area.

The government is also committed to building a “sustainable forest city” that puts the environment at its heart and aims to be carbon neutral by 2045.

However, some environmentalists have expressed concern that the urban development in the middle of the forest will have a major impact on the area, which is one of the world's oldest tropical rainforests. The project is also said to cut through an important wildlife corridor without appropriate relocation measures.

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