"We are ready to commence construction of the Batam-Bintan bridge. God willing, all administrative and legal requirements to begin the construction will be submitted to the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry (PUPR) by the end of December," Governor Ahmad stated on Thursday.
Ahmad made assurance that most technical necessities for the construction -- procurement of lands to construct the bridge on both sides of the island, detailed engineering design analysis, soil investigation, and environmental impact analysis -- were completed.
Arrangement for a land grant from the Batam Development Board and the construction tender process is ongoing, with both processes being conducted by the Public Works Ministry and assisted by the provincial authority, he explained.
"In principle, the Riau Islands authority only facilitated the construction by executing tasks delegated from the PUPR Ministry, as most of the construction will be handled directly by the ministry," Ahmad stated.
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Ahmad noted that construction of the bridge connecting Batam and Bintan islands, both being economic powerhouses of the province, would be advantageous for the regional economy. Development for a special economic zone and construction of a container port and an industrial area in Tanjung Sauh Island are being considered in future once the bridge built, he added.
Ahmad is optimistic that the bridge would also facilitate better connectivity between both islands, and over seven thousand vehicles are expected to ply on the bridge daily once completed.
"We urge the authority to proceed with the construction in no time," the governor emphasized.
The Batam-Bintan bridge system will be divided into two bridges, with a total length of seven thousand meters. The first bridge measuring two thousand meters in length will connect Batam Island to TanjungSauh Island, while the second bridge measuring five thousand meters in length will connect TanjungSauh Island to Bintan Island.
The total budget required for construction of the bridge is Rp13.66 trillion (around US$938 million), provided under a joint government-enterprises financing scheme.
Related news: Govt to partially fund Batam-Bintan bridge construction: minister
Translator: Ogen, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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