Langgam Pos - Minister of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), Basuki Hadimuljono, donned traditional Dayak clothing and a peci with distinctive Dayak patterns during the 79th Indonesian Independence Day celebration at the new capital, Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan.
Minister Basuki, accompanied by his wife Kartika Basuki Hadimuljono, attended the historic event on Saturday, August 17, 2024. This year's Independence Day celebration was especially significant as it marked the first time the event was held in the new capital, Nusantara.
In his role as Acting Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN), Basuki, along with his wife, wore traditional Dayak attire, symbolizing the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Basuki expressed that the 79th Independence Day ceremony at IKN served as a pivotal moment to reinforce the nation's commitment to sustainable development.
"The overall execution of the 79th Independence Day ceremony at IKN went smoothly," Basuki stated.
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing had prepared various infrastructure supports for the event, including access roads to the State Palace and Garuda Palace. These include the West Axis Road (1,980 meters), a feeder road at the Palace Gate (430 meters), the East Axis Road (2,100 meters), and the Sepaku 2 Loop feeder road (550 meters). Additionally, toll access 6C and the West and East Axis roundabouts (576 meters) were completed. The road leading to the State Palace and Garuda Palace has been paved with asphalt and is fully functional for 1,260 meters.
"People and guests from Balikpapan City can now access the government center area via the IKN Access Toll Road from the Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road at KM 11 exit gate Karangjoang, passing through the Kariangau Port National Access Road and the functional IKN Toll Road (Sections 3A - 3B – 5A - Pulau Balang Long Bridge)," he explained.
Moreover, the Ceremonial Plaza has been operational to accommodate invited guests and supporting committees. Facilities include the Ceremonial Lawn (Visitor Center, Amphitheater, Forest Trail, public restrooms, and Retail/Gallery for MSMEs). The public showed great enthusiasm in participating in the commemoration ceremony at Nusantara.
Student Impressed by Rapid Infrastructure Development in IKN
Neomesis Debora Praise Karinda, a law student from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, who is currently interning in Penajam Paser Utara, expressed her amazement at the rapid infrastructure development in IKN.
She hopes that the development of IKN will continue, turning it into a global benchmark.
"I was shocked when I entered IKN; the development is incredibly fast. The public's enthusiasm for participating in the ceremony here is overwhelming. I hope IKN becomes one of the world's smart city benchmarks," Debora stated.
The first-ever Independence Day ceremony in IKN was led by President Joko Widodo as the Chief Inspector of the ceremony, accompanied by the President-elect of the 2024 Presidential Election, Prabowo Subianto. Meanwhile, the event in Jakarta was led by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, accompanied by the Vice President-elect of the 2024 Presidential Election, Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
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