Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, has been touted as a utopian city in the heart of the jungle, complete with futuristic buildings, a palace topped with a winged eagle, and a grandiose vision for a greener future. However, behind the scenes, the project is facing severe funding cuts, dwindling private investment, and widespread concerns about its very existence.
Despite being launched three years ago by former President Joko Widodo, Nusantara remains largely empty, with only a handful of gardeners and tourists wandering its boulevards. The city's original target of 1.2 million residents has been slashed to less than half that number, leaving many wondering if it will ever become the thriving hub the government envisioned.
The situation is all the more alarming given the drastic reductions in funding for Nusantara. State funding has plummeted from £2 billion in 2024 to just £700 million a year later, and private investment has fallen short of expectations by over £1 billion. The president himself, Prabowo Subianto, seems reluctant to visit the city, which only adds to the sense of disconnection.
Critics say that Nusantara is nothing more than a "ghost city," doomed to fail from the start due to its unrealistic ambitions and lack of concrete planning. Herdiansyah Hamzah, a constitutional law scholar, has described it as an "unrealistic dream" with "no meaning in Indonesian law."
Those involved in the project remain upbeat, however, despite mounting evidence of its stagnation. The head of the Nusantara Capital Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, insists that funding is still in place and that the government remains committed to completing the project.
Yet, for many locals, the reality is far more sobering. Construction workers like Bejo have seen their overtime hours dwindle, while environmentalists warn of a potential ecological disaster in the region's precious rainforests. Indigenous communities, such as the Balik people living near Sepaku River, are also feeling the strain due to displacement and degradation of their habitats.
As Nusantara teeters on the brink of collapse, analysts suggest that President Prabowo's true priorities lie elsewhere – namely, his flagship free schools meals program. Others speculate that the city may never live up to its promise as a tourist destination, instead becoming a mere echo of Singapore in the heart of the jungle.
For now, Nusantara remains a city in limbo, struggling to find its footing amidst the jungle's lush canopy and competing visions for its future.
Despite being launched three years ago by former President Joko Widodo, Nusantara remains largely empty, with only a handful of gardeners and tourists wandering its boulevards. The city's original target of 1.2 million residents has been slashed to less than half that number, leaving many wondering if it will ever become the thriving hub the government envisioned.
The situation is all the more alarming given the drastic reductions in funding for Nusantara. State funding has plummeted from £2 billion in 2024 to just £700 million a year later, and private investment has fallen short of expectations by over £1 billion. The president himself, Prabowo Subianto, seems reluctant to visit the city, which only adds to the sense of disconnection.
Critics say that Nusantara is nothing more than a "ghost city," doomed to fail from the start due to its unrealistic ambitions and lack of concrete planning. Herdiansyah Hamzah, a constitutional law scholar, has described it as an "unrealistic dream" with "no meaning in Indonesian law."
Those involved in the project remain upbeat, however, despite mounting evidence of its stagnation. The head of the Nusantara Capital Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, insists that funding is still in place and that the government remains committed to completing the project.
Yet, for many locals, the reality is far more sobering. Construction workers like Bejo have seen their overtime hours dwindle, while environmentalists warn of a potential ecological disaster in the region's precious rainforests. Indigenous communities, such as the Balik people living near Sepaku River, are also feeling the strain due to displacement and degradation of their habitats.
As Nusantara teeters on the brink of collapse, analysts suggest that President Prabowo's true priorities lie elsewhere – namely, his flagship free schools meals program. Others speculate that the city may never live up to its promise as a tourist destination, instead becoming a mere echo of Singapore in the heart of the jungle.
For now, Nusantara remains a city in limbo, struggling to find its footing amidst the jungle's lush canopy and competing visions for its future.
it was supposed to be this futuristic utopia but now it's just a ghost town 
with like a handful of people wandering around... i mean, who funds a city that's basically empty and crumbling? £700 million a year is insane 
what were they thinkin'?! some people say it's an unrealistic dream from the start, and honestly i'm startin to think they're right 
but still gotta feel for those construction workers who are losin their overtime hours and environmentalists who are worried about deforestation... 
... but what about the people living there now? the workers, the indigenous communities, the ones who are literally losing their homes? it's like they're being forgotten in all this "progress" hype 
... and what's with the drastic funding cuts? is this just a case of "we'll get around to it eventually"? 
no way, we need real solutions, not more empty promises 
they had some ambitious plans but now funding cuts are taking a toll on the whole project...like, seriously how many gardeners can you have in a city that's supposed to be home to 1.2 million people? 
the government cut funding by like 70% and still think they can make it work? 
meanwhile, construction workers are losing overtime hours and environmentalists are worried about deforestation 
as for prabowo's priorities, idk man... free schools meals vs a ghost city? 
i guess we'll just have to wait and see how this whole thing plays out 
. I mean, who needs overtime hours when you can't even afford basic stuff? And what about the environment? All this new city being built in the jungle is already a huge deal, but then to add funding cuts on top of it? It's like, what's the point of even building it if we're just going to abandon it later 
. But at least the palm trees are pretty 
i think nusantara is like the ultimate example of how things dont always work out as planned 
and now we see the effects of it: funding cuts, nobody living there, environmental issues... what was joko widodo thinking? 
but seriously, nusantara needs some serious reform ASAP 
.
like, what went wrong? and omg the head of the capital authority is still saying it's all good despite the cuts