The Indonesian government is rapidly advancing the construction of its new capital city, Nusantara (IKN). A significant milestone was achieved recently with the completion of the Garuda landmark at the Presidential Office in the Central Government Core Area (KIPP) IKN. This accomplishment, which took place on Saturday (July 20, 2024), was marked by the installation of the 4,650th and final blade on the West Wing of the Garuda’s wing covering.
The journey began on September 17, 2023, when President Joko Widodo installed the first blade. The final blade for the Garuda wing covering at the Presidential Palace in IKN was crafted at PT Siluet Nyoman Nuarta’s workshop at NuArt Sculpture Park in Bandung and successfully delivered.
This massive Garuda statue features wings that span 177 meters and stand 77 meters tall, made from brass and corrosion-resistant steel produced by PT Krakatau Steel (Persero) Tbk.
These blades are notably heavy, necessitating precise transportation methods. In total, the IKN Garuda statue comprises 4,854 covering blades, each weighing 0.3 tons, with the entire structure weighing 1,456 tons. The designer, I Nyoman Nuarta, revealed that completing these thousands of blades was a meticulous process, averaging 70-100 blades per day, taking approximately 464 days or 15.5 months to complete.
“Alhamdulillah, tonight we will witness the installation of the 4,650th blade, marking the completion of our Garuda,” announced Minister of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) and Acting Head of OIKN Basuki Hadimuljono in a video statement shared by the Ministry of PUPR on Monday (July 22, 2024).
“Hopefully, by the set date when work must cease, we will have successfully completed the blade installation and other elements,” added I Nyoman Nuarta.
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Meanwhile, IKN Authority (OIKN) Spokesperson Troy Pantouw mentioned that there is no confirmed date yet for President Jokowi to start working at the IKN Presidential Office. Troy noted that the President’s schedule for moving to IKN is dependent on various developments and remains quite dynamic.
“We don’t yet know his schedule,” said Troy, as quoted by Kompas.com on Monday (July 22, 2024). He declined to comment on Jokowi’s readiness to work at IKN, specifically regarding the availability of water and electricity at the Presidential Office.
Separately, Presidential Chief of Staff General (Ret) Moeldoko confirmed that Jokowi will indeed work at IKN. However, he did not provide a specific date for Jokowi’s move to the new capital. Moeldoko emphasized that the President’s move depends on the readiness of necessary facilities and infrastructure.
This new chapter in Indonesia’s development underscores the government’s commitment to creating a modern and functional capital city, reflecting the country’s aspirations and progress. The completion of the Garuda landmark is a significant step forward, symbolizing the spirit and ambition behind this monumental project.
