Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo led a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday for the construction of a police station in the planned new capital's Nusantara Central Government District (KIPP), a project that will cost the state Rp 160 billion (US$10.6 million).
The President kicked off his tour of Nusantara on Wednesday and was scheduled to inaugurate a number of additional construction projects.
The police station, which will be the home base for 750 personnel deployed to six new precincts, will sit on 12 hectares of land in the planned new capital.
"The construction of this new police headquarters will last nine months and will cost Rp 160 billion," Jokowi said in his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony.
He said that with the deployment of hundreds of police personnel and the installation of state-of-the-art surveillance technology, he hoped Nusantara would not struggle with crime.
"The Nusantara capital city should be an example of a city without crime, so its occupants can be fully protected," Jokowi said.
He also wanted the building to adhere to green principles and promote sustainability.
As part of his current trip, Jokowi is also scheduled to break ground on a general hospital and an apartment complex for civil servants.
National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who joined Jokowi at the groundbreaking ceremony and in his tour of Nusantara, also pledged that security in Nusantara would be a top priority.
"We're committed to maintaining peace and providing protection for everyone in the country, including those residing in strategic locations like Nusantara," Listyo said.
In the past months, President Jokowi's administration has ramped up construction projects in the planned new capital.
In November, Jokowi launched 10 projects worth 12.5 trillion rupiah ($784 million) during a visit to Nusantara, which the government is building from scratch in the jungles of East Kalimantan.
During the November visit, Jokowi inaugurated the construction of a 347-hectare airport which is scheduled to open by December 2024, at a total cost of Rp 4.2 trillion ($263 million).The government hopes to open an international-standard hospital built by Indonesian hospital operator Mayapada in the second half of 2024.
Jokowi also inspected construction work on a 57 km toll road to link Nusantara to the coal hub of Balikpapan, which he expected could be in use by June of next year.