Jakarta to build smart tunnel to overcome flooding

The Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) in Kuala Lumpur has given an inspiration for the Governor of Jakarta, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to build a similar one to overcome flood problem and traffic congestion in the republic's capital.

The plan is to built a similar tunnel from Jalan MT Haryono, East Jakarta, to Pluit, in North Jakarta. The project is estimated to cost US$1.66 billion (RM5.04 billion)

“The process to build the tunnel is expected to take between four and five years," said Jokowi here.

The tunnel project in Jakarta was first planned under the administration of Governor Sutiyoso, who visited Kuala Lumpur in 2007, together with former Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla, to study the SMART tunnel project.