"It is ready," Rollo remarked before the inauguration of Merah Putih (Red and White) Youtefa Bridge, South Jayapura District, in Jayapura, Papua, on Monday.
Rollo, concurrently chairman of Jayapura's House of Representatives (DPRD), attended the event in a white shirt with a Cendrawasih traditional headband depicting his position as a Papuan customary leader.
Rollo desisted from furnishing further details on the plan to build the presidential palace.
At a recent meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and other Papuan figures in Jakarta, Rollo confirmed he will grant a 10-hectare plot of land to construct a presidential palace in Jayapura.
Related news: Youtefa Bridge reflects Jokowi's commitment to build Papua: Minister
Construction of a presidential palace in Papua has been one of the 10 requests conveyed by the Papuan figures during the meeting.
President Jokowi and his entourage arrived in Jayapura after visiting Wamena in Jayawijaya District.
The president is scheduled to inaugurate the 732-meter-long bridge, the work for which began in 2015, and some Rp943.6 billion was spent.
Built over Youtefa Bay to link Jayapura and Muara Tami District in Papua and Skouw District of the neighboring country Papua New Guinea, the bridge was constructed by a consortium of state construction companies: PT PP, PT Hutama Karya, and PT Nindya Karya.
In April 2018, President Jokowi assessed the progress in its construction during which he was optimistic that this long bridge will give rise to new economic centers in Jayapura and the nearby areas.
Work on the project is already 80 percent complete. It will cut short the time required to reach Skouw border from Jayapura, from 2.5 hours to 60 minutes. Related news: Jokowi instructs to expedite post-riot rehabilitation work in Wamena
Related news: Jokowi pledges to build market and roads in Arfak, West Papua
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Alfian Rumagit, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
