TEMPO.CO, Bandung - Minister of National Development Planning (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro has forecast that the population in Jakarta and Bandung, West Java, would reach 75 million by 2045. The prediction arose due to urbanization.

"This is not a concern but a prediction that the population of Bandung and Jakarta will reach 60 to 75 million people by 2045," Bambang Brodjonegoro noted after delivering a speech at the 1st ITB Centennial and the 4th Planocosmo International Conference on Infrastructure Development: "Transforming beyond Borders, Starting the New Urban Agenda" at the Bandung Institute of Technology, Wednesday.

According to Brodjonegoro, Bappenas is compiling a document containing Indonesia's vision for 2045, and one of the concepts being projected is the development of Jakarta and Bandung that is expected to be more interesting in the next 27 years.

"Urbanization is taking place at a larger scale in Jakarta and Bandung since Bandung area's development will be focused in the north, while in Jakarta, it is moving eastwards. Hence, if metropolitan areas of Jakarta and Bandung meet, they will become one megapolitan urban area," he explained.

He added that Indonesia can take a cue from Japan's successful development in two megapolitan urban areas: Tokyo and Yokohama.

"Tokyo and Yokohama are two big cities that have become a megapolitan area. Since we do not have such experience, we have to prepare infrastructure from now onward, both in Jakarta and Bandung. This is the point I should raise, as urbanization in Java would have already reached 80 percent by 2045," he noted.

Bambang pointed out that infrastructure development and new sources of growth to ensure equitable economic growth and development are some of the areas that need to be addressed in connection with urbanization in Jakarta and Bandung.

"Surely, the infrastructure sector should be encouraged, such as by building means of mass transportation. The government should take precautionary measures in the face of this urbanization issue, as it not only affects Java but also all regions," he remarked.

Furthermore, Bambang noted that by 2045, Indonesia would experience significant population growth, with an estimated rise of 63.4 million, or 24.7 percent. Some 67.1 percent of the population will live in urban areas.

ANTARA