jpnn.com, JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has completed the construction of the Silaturahmi Tunnel, which connects the basement parking area of the Istiqlal Mosque to the courtyard of the Jakarta Cathedral.
Director General of Cipta Karya Diana Kusumastuti said the tunnel as a form of religious tolerance in Indonesia was expected to be operational soon.
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"Alhamdulillah [thank God], the construction has been completed and we will immediately submit the result to the Ministry of Religion so that it can be used as soon as possible," Diana said in a written statement, Monday (25/10).
Diana said the tunnel was built based on the idea of President Joko Widodo after his visit in February 2020.
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"At that time, the President stood at Al-Alfatah Plaza and saw that the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral Church could be connected. That was when the Silaturahmi Tunnel was being planned," said Diana.
The Cathedral Church and the Istiqlal Mosque are two old buildings that have become cultural sites in Jakarta.
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"The tunnel is connected to the parking basement on the 1st floor at the Istiqlal Mosque, which can accommodate 500 cars. Its presence is expected to make it easier for the congregation of the two houses of worship to use the parking lot together," said Diana.
The Silaturahmi Tunnel can be used multifunctionally.
Every Friday, it can be used by the congregation of the Istiqlal Mosque, while every Sunday, it can be used by the congregation of the Jakarta Cathedral Church.
The Silaturahmi Tunnel was built with a length of 28.3 meters, a height of 3 meters, and a width of 4.1 meters, with a total tunnel area of 136 square meters.
The distance from the tunnel entrance to the Jakarta Cathedral Church is 32 meters. This is to ensure the safety of the cathedral structure.
Meanwhile, the distance from the tunnel to the gate of the Istiqlal Mosque is 16 meters. (mcr18/mcr20/jpnn)