Environment
Why Indonesia Wants to Move Its Capital Out of Jakarta
Jakarta has 10 million people and is sinking faster than any other city in the world. But there are other factors involved in its relocation plan.
Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo may finally push forward a long-standing proposal to move the nation’s capital out of the polluted, sinking city of Jakarta, and off the crowded main island of Java. Though details remain scant, the plan he approved last week during a special cabinet meeting is expected to take five to 10 years, at least, and cost $33 billion to complete—if it comes to fruition.
The government has not said where the new capital will be, but an official told reporters it is eyeing somewhere in eastern Indonesia, according to the AP.