President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) is now conducting a feasibility study of three provinces, one of which will be selected to host the new capital city to replace the overburdened Jakarta.

Jokowi, however, refused to mention the names of the three provinces to prevent speculators from buying land to benefit from the capital city relocation.

“If we name the provinces, people will rush to buy plots of land there,” said the President in Balikpapan on Thursday, as quoted by tempo.co.

All aspects of the provinces including the economy, society, politics, infrastructure as well as resilience to disasters are being assessed by the team led by Bappenas, he said, adding that while the process was taking place, the names of the provinces would be kept secret.

However, Central Kalimantan provincial capital, Palangkaraya is reportedly being seriously considered as the new capital city.

National Development Planning Minister and head of Bappenas Bambang Brodjonegoro said previously that the study was expected to be completed this year so that the process of building infrastructure could start in 2018 or 2019.

“In 2018 or 2019, activities will commence, including the transfer of the central government’s administrative functions [to the new capital city],” said Bambang.

Bappenas and the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry will lead ministries and other government institutions in executing the plan, said Bambang, adding that it would take three to four years to turn a city into the capital city. (dis/bbn)