Jakarta: Indonesia’s plan to build a new capital in the jungles of Borneo now faces a threat. Envisioned as a modern symbol of progress, Nusantara (the proposed capital) is at risk of turning into a ghost city. Former President Joko Widodo had come up with the idea to shift the capital from overcrowded Jakarta to a new and greener location by 2030.

But today, the wide roads of Nusantara lie mostly empty, lined with future government buildings that remain half-finished. Apart from a few gardeners and curious visitors, there is little life in what was meant to be the heart of a new Indonesia.

According to The Guardian, the situation worsened after President Prabowo Subianto took office in October. His administration has cut government funding for Nusantara by more than half. In 2024, the

See Full Page