Indonesia will build a new capital in the jungle of Borneo
Indonesia has announced that it will build a new capital in the jungle, in the East Kalimantan region of Borneo. The absolutely chaotic and unsustainable growth of Jakarta, the current capital, and all the problems this has caused for the environment and community have been key factors in making this decision.
It is expected that once the project is approved, construction of the new city will take place in 2021, with government agencies moving there by 2023 or 2024.
The chosen site for the new capital is said to carry a reduced risk of natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and landslides. Many environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, fear that the area could damage the environment as has happened in Jakarta and dramatically worsen air quality.
Some of the government agencies moving from Jakarta to this new capital will be tasked with creating green spaces to alleviate the extremely congested Jakarta; otherwise, it threatens to become the most populated capital in Asia after Tokyo, with 36 million people.
A new capital in Egypt is also under construction
Others that will soon change capitals are the Egyptians, who will build an alternative to Cairo in the desert, about 30 miles from the current capital. It will span 168 square kilometers and house all of the country's economic and political power centers. Everything is designed on a grand scale: it will have a green area twice the size of Central Park, the largest mosque in Egypt... and it will also be a technological city, with smart traffic management and cameras constantly monitoring the city.
Construction of the new capital will begin in 2021, with the first phase of the project expected to conclude in 2024.
The new city will alleviate the extremely congested and highly polluted Cairo and could accommodate up to 6 million residents and several million jobs.
Other countries that have changed their capital
Australia
Melbourne and Sydney have disputed the capital since their inception, and to resolve the friction between them, a neutral site was chosen: Canberra.
Myanmar
To address the overpopulation of Yangon, the government of Myanmar decided in 2006 to create Naypyidaw, a new capital.
Brazil
In the South American country, there have been three capitals. First was Salvador, then Rio de Janeiro, and lastly Brasília, constructed mostly in the 60s by the renowned architect Niemeyer. Today it has over 3 million residents.
Nigeria
Nigeria had one of the most overcrowded capitals in Africa, Lagos, which has 13 million residents.
In 1991, to curb overpopulation, the government ordered the move to Abuja, in the center of the country.
Belize
The former Belize City was destroyed in the 60s by a hurricane.
Thus the project to found the city of Belmopan was born, which became the new administrative headquarters in 1970 and is located inland, reducing the risk of hurricanes.