With funding officially set aside, work has begun on upgrading and expanding upon the road and rail networks and infrastructure in Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, and the various islands. The highspeed rail network will be as follows:
- In Sumatra, with two main lines being planned: one through the centre, and one further east, both connecting the main cities throughout the island. Both routes would begin in Bandar Lampung, and terminate in Banda Aceh. The eastern line will have stops in Palembang, Jambi, Pekanbaru, and Medan, while the more central line will have stops in Lubuklinggau, and Bukittinggi. A smaller line will run between Padang, Bukittinggi, Tarutung, and Medan.
- In Borneo, the line will run along the coast of the south of the island, connecting Kuching, Pontianak, and Banjarmasin. Initially this line will serve only these three cities, but it will run through Sandai, Pembuang, and Palangkaraya, with the potential for expansion into those cities in the future.
- In Peninsular Malaysia, one part of the route will be covered by a seperate agreement with Siam, while four other routes will also be constructed. The first will be a direct route between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, with no stops along the way. The second will follow a parallel line, stopping in Singapore, Johor Bahru, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Taiping, Sungai Petani, ending in Alor Setar. The third line will start in Singapore, running through Johor Bahru, Kluang, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, ending in Kota Bharu. A fourth line will run from Kota Bharu to Kuala Lumpur direct.
- On Java, the southern line will run from Jakarta, through Bandun, Yogyakarta, and Malang, before ending in Surabaya.
- Elsewhere in the nation, a line between Kupang and Dili on Timor has been planned, as well as a line on Seram Island connecting Piru, Kamarian, Ilasa, and Gulegule.
Work has begun on the lines in all the regions of the nation, with materials being secured and workers being hired for the massive undertaking. In many regions a viaduct system will be used in order to minimize the impact on the local environment. In the Brunei region a regular (~120km/hr) train system will be built, connecting Miri to Bandar Seri Begawan, due to the shorter distances in the region. In order to decrease congestion on the roads, current highways will not be expanded, but rather funding will be funneled into the rapid transportation networks, with intercity rail lines being built between other communities throughout the nation not serviced by high speed rail, to be serviced by regular speed (~120km/hr) trains. Work has also begun on ensuring all communities and cities are connected via paved roads, regardless of how remote they are.
Work on the
Sunda Strait bridge and the Bali Strait bridge has commenced, with both road and high speed rail infrastructure being planned for both bridges. For the Bali bridge, an expansion of the road and rail network to the city of Denpasar from Surabaya has commenced, with an extra stop along the high speed rail line being added in Banyuwangi. For the Sunda Strait crossing two stops will be added, at Bakau and Cilegon, with the network being expanded from Bandar Lampung to Jakarta.
Meanwhile, studies are promising on a bridge between Lombok and Sumbawa, but more work is needed to determine if a bridge between Bali and Lombok is feasible. Of major concern is the depth of the water between the two islands, however work is ongoing in an effort to determine a solution.
A bridge project that had previously been under investigation connecting
Sumatra to the Bangka Island has also been approved, with construction set to begin shortly. This bridge will share many features with the Sunda and Bali Strait bridges, with high speed rail planned to connect the island to the city of Palembang.
Whether high on power, or eager to expand trade opportunities, officials have commissioned reports into the feasibility of a bridge connecting Sumatra to the Malaysian Peninsula. Concerned about the potential cost to shipping traffic in the region, officials have instructed that this bridge be constructed with the regular transit of naval vessels in mind. Two options are currently under investigation, one between Rupat Island and Malacca, and one connecting the Riau Islands and Singapore. It is uncertain if this project will receive approval, or how the international community will react. [
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Work on expanding the ports has begun, with the ports being built to exceed current Neopanamax standards by at least 15% in order to facilitate predicted future advances in ship building technology and trade. Construction will focus on decreasing potential interruptions to current shipping and trade, while reducing estimated construction times as much as possible. Along with this expansion, several new shipyards are being constructed as well, spread throughout the various main islands of the nation, in order to better facilitate the predicted need for an ever expanding navy and trade operations.
Alongside work on the ports, expansion and upgrade of the various airports throughout the nation has also commenced, with new runways and terminals being added throughout all the major cities in the nation. Similarly, several smaller cities (500k - 1m) which may not have had airports in the past, or have had small airports incapable of facilitating increased air traffic, are also being upgraded or constructed as well.
Construction on several nuclear power plants has also begun throughout the nation, in an effort to move away from oil and gas power. Extra care is given to ensuring these plants are earthquake resistant.
Ground has been broken on many of these new projects, and work is well underway. These expansions include several on Christmas Island, Ternate, and the Cocos Islands.
Several military installations will also be constructed on key Spartly Islands, in order to better provide for the defense of the region, and to ensure freedom of mobility through the islands. These will include lighthouses, radar and sonar stations, and possibly helicopter ports on larger islands. Currently permission has not been granted to put missile launchers on the islands, although there are some talks within the military about seeking permission to do so.
Work has begun on designing a completely new parliament building, rather than an upgrade of the old buildings. Although controversial, many believe this is the best option for the future. Some people have argued for the development of a new capital city entirely, although others counter that, stating that Surabaya has always served the nation well as its capital. Regardless, the proposed parliament building has been submitted to the government for approval.
Investments in culture and tourism are ongoing, and will require more studies, but preliminary reports look promising. Work will continue with a committee being selected in order to review how best to implement the various studies as they come in, or if they are unfeasible.
Investments into the tech and manufacturing sectors have yet to be announced, as the government finalizes plans on how best to go about the investment and development programs. The government is also in talks with several companies in order to decide the best locations for future offices and factories.
After
joining the UPPC, oil production and sales have been coordinated. That said, work has begun on expanding the refineries throughout the nation, in order to better improve oil production. Similarly new exploratory measures have been taken in order to make better use of the various oil reserves in the nation.
