Trans Babel Lane to Connect Sumatra and Kalimantan

PANGKALPINANG, KOMPAS.com - Bangka-Belitung (Babel) Governor Eko Maulana Ali has proposed a Trans Babel Lane to connect the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, separated by Karimata strait.

"The Trans Babel Lane will function to connect the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan," the governor said after opening provincial consultation on development planning here on Wednesday.

Eko Maulana said on the occasion that there were already seven trans links in Indonesia namely Trans Sumatra, Trans Java, Trans Bali, Trans Nusa Tenggara Barat- Nusa Tenggara Timur, Trans Kalimantan, Trans Sulawesi, and Trans Papua.

"Therefore, in Trans Babel a connecting line will be made through the sea from Palembang in South Sumatra to Ketapang in East Kalimantan," Governor Eko Maulana said.

According to him, the connecting line would go through the ferry ports of Palembang, Muntok in Bangka Bangka district, Sadai in Bangka Selatan district, Manggar in Belitung Timur district, Tanjungpandan in Belitung district, and Ketapang in East Kalimantan.

"We propose a road from Muntok ferry port to Tanjung Beriak in Bangka Tengah, and then cross the sea to Tanjung Batu port in Belitung, and from Belitung a road to Manggar port in Belitung Timur," he said.

He also proposed a 104-kilometer road from Muntok to Pangkalpinag, and then a 53-kilometer road from Pangkalpinang to Tanung Berikat.

"With Trans Babel, there will be a close relationship between the people in Sumatra and Kalimantan in addition to improving the economy of people in Babel province," he said.