Batam - The construction of an overpass bridge with the highway toll concept will connect Batam Center-Nongsa. This bridge will be a new path. Recently, Pemko Batam estimated the budget to implement this project

The Acting Mayor of Batam, Syamsul Bahrum, explained that the existence of the bridge will be integrated between various types of tourism, both Nongsa and those in Batam Center, with eco-tourism and leisure tourism in the monitoring area of ​​Nongsa, Batu Besar, and its surroundings.

"The Batam Center-Nongsa Bridge will be strengthened if the Tering Bay Water Front City concept can be developed as a new Provincial Strategic Area whose land allocation is included in the planning for the Zoning Plan for Coastal Areas and Small Islands (RZWP3K) for Riau Islands Province," said Syamsul.

It was hoped that the existence of this bridge can shorten the distance from Batam Center to Batam's International Airport Hang Nadim, as well as the tourist areas of Nongsa and Batu Besar.

Hotel development in the Nongsa area will be planned to balance the number of hotels in the Nagoya and Batam Center areas, such as Harris Resort, Aston Hotel, Harmoni, Sahid, Golden View, and Marriot.

Syamsul added that Batam Center could be a Government Business District (GBD) and Commercial Business District (CBD). "It could also be a shopping paradise for tourists staying at Nongsa," he said.

The plan to build this bridge could also turn Batam Center-Nongsa into a tourist destination and strengthen sports tourism. Syamsul also added that this bridge could become a new icon for Batam.

The presence of this connecting bridge can also optimize the two islands in Teluk Tering, namely Semakau Besar and Semakau Kecil as the Batam Financial Digital Hub.

"That's why this bridge will be named Nong Isa, after the origin of the name Nongsa itself. With this bridge, it will also allow the holding of international sports events," he said.

The progress of the bridge construction was still only calculating the value and technical aspects of the project together with investors to determine the right design planning with a strong budget too. "Depending on the design of the bridge to be built, the budget could be up to Rp 1.5 trillion," he said.