The economy would grow and business will flourish around the more than US$10 billion project but it does not necessary benefit the local people, Andrinof Chaniago said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A public policy observer said he doubted the mega project of Sunda Strait bridge spanning sea between Java and Sumatra would contribute to improving the welfare of local people.

The economy would grow and business will flourish around the more than US$10 billion project but it does not necessary benefit the local people, Andrinof Chaniago said here on Friday

On the contrary it is feared that they would be driven from their places if the government has no initiative to buy the land around the project before falling to hand of big investors, he said.

The government could protect the local people by building low cost houses around the project for the people when they have to be displaced to give space for the project, he said.

The local people, therefore, will gain from the growth of the areas after the completion of the project, he added

The project will include a 29 kilometer bridge and new business centers in both ends of the bridge in Bakauheni in Lampung and Merak in Banten.

The bridge is one of the projects to be implemented under the government`s Master Plan for Acceleration and expansion of the country economic development to be implemented in 2014.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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