Tanjungpinang - The construction of the Batam-Bintan bridge is not included in the National Strategic Development resulting in the public in Riau Islands Province feeling curious.

As stated in Presidential Decree No. 109/2020 concerning the third amendment to Presidential Decree No. 3/2016 on the acceleration of the implementation of national strategic projects. The list of projects does not include the Bridge construction project.

Acting Governor of Riau Islands Bahtiar Baharuddin responded to this. "Yes, the bridge's national strategic project has been registered. However, what is not yet is only the planning term," said Bahtiar in Dompak, Tanjungpinang, Wednesday (2/12/2020).

Bahtiar stated regarding the development program is that there are a national strategic project and a national priority project.

Even so, Bahtiar said in the meeting with the Minister of Communication and Informatics that there was no problem.

"I don't think there is a problem, especially since this is the president's promise. And I have also written a letter to the president and reported the progress of its development," said Bahtiar.

The Director-General of Police of the Ministry of Home Affairs also suspects that the bridge construction has not been included in the national strategic project because it has not been reported to the center about its developments so far.

When he served as Acting Governor of the Riau Islands and checked the fate of projects that were stalled in the Riau Islands, including the plan to build the bridge, currently only reported back.

"Under these conditions, I as the governor of the Riau Islands, who is the representative of the central government in the regions and the president's and ministers' subordinates, all reported including the bridge construction plan," he said.