The proposed Singapore/Batam bridge is in addition to the Malacca/Rapat/Sumatra bridge project which serves central Sumatra. The proposed Batam/Singapore/Sumatra bridges is intended to serve the South. There is no conflict. The Soutnern bridges will enable the Riau Islands south of Singapore to be connected to the Asian mainland via Singapore and Johore. The three Southern states of Johore, Singapore and the Riau Islands are the direct beneficiaries of the current proposal. With the final connection to Sumatra and then Java, a dynamic Southern Growth Area will be created which will balance China growth.

The Batam/Singapore bridges can be a stand-alone project initially. It will serve as the first phase of an extended system of bridges linking to Sumatra and finally Java. Upon successful completion of phase one and subject to feasibility studies, the bridges can then be extended to connect to southern Sumatra and from there to Java.

The economic and social benefits to both Riau, Sumatra, Singapore and southern Malaysia will be immense. When linked, the whole southern region of insular South East Asia will become a world-class growth area bringing benefits to the whole of Asia especially South-East-Asia. Direct benefits, in the first phase, will be to Singapore, Batam and Johore. Indonesians working in Riau will enjoy enhanced job opportunities and a steady raising of incomes and skills. Transmigration of workers from Indonesia will relieve congestion stresses in Java. Boosts given to investments in tourism, rapid industrialisation and large-scale agri-business in Riau will engender a climate of growth and also increase development opportunity for Johore, Singapore and the Riau Islands. Road linkages will enable access to deep water ports and air-ports in the Singapore/Batam area for transhipment of goods to the rest of the world.

The broadest section in the Singapore-Batam system of bridges is across international shipping lanes south of Lazarus Island on the Singapore side. From this main span, short-span bridges will link to Batu Berhanti, Pulau Sambu and on towards Batam in the South and towards Singapore's Southern Islands in the North.

The cost of the bridges linking Lazarus Island to Batam will be around US$4.0 Billion. The main-span bridge will have a clear span of 2 Km. This is within current technical capability of international bridge builders. The just-completed Akashi Kaiyo bridge near Kobe in Japan has a clear span of 1.99 Km. The Bridge from Italy to Sicily, to be completed in 2006, has a centre span of 3.3 Km. Construction of the Batam/Singapore bridge will be undertaken, as with the other bridges, without interrupting shipping traffic thereby conforming to International Maritime Council's requirements. The lack of seismic conditions is a plus point.

A Consortium led by Indonesian and Singaporean interests will undertake the project. To compensate for the risks and the investment cost of the bridges, 70,000 Ha. of suitable land in the Riau Islands has to be leased to the Consortium with all necessary approvals for rapid commercialisation of the leased lands. The consortium shall have the right to collect bridge and highway tolls. The lease of lands shall not be less than 30+30+30 years. Renewal of leases at each stage shall be to prior-agreed rates.

Construction of the bridges shall be concurrent with phased land and infrastructure developments. Financing of the bridges will be through direct equity capital injection and not loans. Land and infrastructure development shall be financed from proceeds through pre-sale of land and property development.

Upon obtaining In-Principle Approval from the highest authorities in Indonesia and with the agreement of Singapore, a detailed technical and economic study will be initiated by the Consortium and be completed within 9 months. The Singapore side of the short-span bridges leading to the main span will be financed by Singapore investors. The Singapore/Johore second link will form part of the system of bridges. It will be operational well ahead of the proposed development and therefore serve it. Upon final approval from the relevant authorities in Indonesia and Singapore, the bridges can be completed within 4 years. Various reclamation projects and bridges on the Singapore side will have to be undertaken concurrently by Singapore. All the bridges will take a minimum of 4 years to complete. The land developments in Batam will be over a minimum period of 10 years. Several townships and industrial estates will be built. The entire project is intended to be speedily implemented in order to maintain economic initiative in the South East Asian area to balance the tremendous economic growth of China or risk being eclipsed.

Upon successful completion of the Batam/Singapore project, technical feasibility studies for further bridges to link Sumatra can then be started. The final link to Sumatra will offer another spurt of growth, building upon the Batam/Singapore initiative. The link to Java will complete the total project well into the 21st Century. A new era in South East Asian development will then have come about. It will be a triumph of regional co-operation and synergy so well pioneered by Asean. A powerful Southern Growth Area will then become the new reality in Asia.