Jakarta. Indonesia's 79th Independence Day celebration will take place in both Jakarta and the new capital, Nusantara (IKN). State Secretary Pratikno said that this year's event will be historic and special, though the new airport intended to accommodate state guests is still under construction.

Pratikno outlined a series of events to commemorate Independence Day. The celebration will begin with a national prayer and remembrance ceremony at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, attended by religious leaders and national figures, with 3,000 participants.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will lead the inauguration of the national flag-raising team (Paskibraka) at Nusantara. The award ceremony for national honors will take place at the State Palace in Jakarta. Additionally, the State Address and the presentation of the 2025 state budget will be held at the Nusantara Building in the Parliament Complex in Jakarta.

On the early morning of August 17, a solemn honor and remembrance ceremony will be conducted at two locations. Vice President Ma'ruf Amin will lead the event at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery, while President Joko Widodo will lead at the Taman Kusuma Bangsa Nusantara, honoring the heroes who fought for Indonesia's independence.

The flag-raising ceremony, marking the proclamation of independence, will be held with full military honors at Nusantara, led by President Jokowi. A similar ceremony will take place at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

The flag-lowering ceremony will be conducted at both IKN and the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

Nusantara Airport Not Ready Yet
Public Works and Housing Ministry Basuki Hadimuljono provided updates on infrastructure in IKN ahead of the Independence Day celebration. Two access roads from Balikpapan and Sepinggan to IKN are ready. State guests will use these routes as the airport in Nusantara is still under construction.

"The toll road is ready and was inspected by the President. We traveled by motorbike to the Pulang Balang Bridge and then continued to Nusantara via the national road," Basuki said at the  State Secretariat on Thursday.

The toll road spans 88 km and takes 90 minutes to travel. The alternative route via the Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road and the national road through Samboja takes about 2.5 hours.

Basuki noted that the IKN airport runway is short by 300 meters and will not be ready by August 17, but weather modification efforts are in place to expedite construction.

For August 17, guests can use the alternative road routes. Basuki mentioned that Nusantara's State Palace and Garuda Palace are accessible via the West and East Axis gates.

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