The first phase of Sepaku SPAM will see it serve several key buildings, including the presidential palace and office, the state secretariat ministry, the presidential security force, four coordinating ministry buildings, ministerial residences, civil servant apartment, exhibition galleries, as well as an amphitheater.
It will also support public facilities such as hotels, schools, shops, and hospitals.
Mr Basuki said that people can drink water directly from the taps in IKN, a departure from other parts of the country. Generally, tap water in Indonesia is not drinkable.
“This is drinking water, not just clean water. The water from the taps in IKN’s buildings can be consumed directly. We continue to monitor and check the water quality before it enters the reservoir,” said Mr Basuki, adding that he hopes the drinking water will be available for use in the next coming days.
Earlier, the construction of the presidential office and palace were also completed with the installation of the 4,650th metal ornament – the final piece of the Garuda-shaped palace – last Sunday.
The installation process took nearly a year, beginning with the first section, which was inaugurated by Mr Widodo in September 2023.
The Nusantara Presidential Palace will serve as the backdrop for the upcoming Independence Day ceremony on Aug 17, which will be held in both Nusantara and the current national capital, Jakarta.
Mr Widodo and his successor, current-Defence Minister Prabowo, will preside over the ceremony in Nusantara.
Despite the progress made, questions still remain as to when the new capital will officially be relocated to IKN, as the president is yet to issue the decree to officially designate Nusantara as the new capital.
Until the decree is signed, Jakarta remains the country’s capital.
Mr Widodo has signaled that the decree might be issued by Mr Prabowo who will be inaugurated as the new president on Oct 20.
The delay in formalising the decree has raised questions about the location of the presidential inauguration, as in accordance with the Indonesian constitution, the inauguration must take place in the nation’s capital.
Mr Jokowi’s eldest son, incoming-vice-president Gibran Rakabuming Raka, told local media on Tuesday that the inauguration is likely to be held in Jakarta.
Previously, past presidential inaugurations took place at the parliament complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.
