Head of the Regional Development Planning Board (Bappeda) of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Ridwansyah said the proposal was first raised by the West Sumbawa District Administration.
"As the bridge would link two islands in a province the plan would certainly involve the provincial administration, Ridwansyah said here on Wednesday.
The 20 kilometer-long bridge aimed to span the Alas Strait is to be built in cooperation with a South Korean investors, Ridwansyah said without giving further details including the estimated cost and the name of the investors.
"If the bridge project comes to reality the distance between Lombok and Sumbawa could be covered in much shorter time by car," he said.
He said currently the plan is still in the phase of feasibility study starting last April to be wrapped up this month.
"If the study says that the project is feasible we will issue recommendation and license for the construction," he said.
Ridwansyah said he could not yet say estimate of the cost of building the bridge.
"It would be a huge investment, but the impact would also be tremendous," he remarked.
So far activities tend to be brisker in Lombok as more people including tourist are drawn to Lombok than to Sumbawa, although Sumbawa is no inferior in natural beauty, he said.
"Few tourists have visited Sumbawa because of poor condition of infrastructure, but if the bridge project has become a reality it takes only 15 minute to reach Sumbawa from Lombok," he added.
Reporting by Nur Imansyah
Editing by Bustanuddin
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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