VP Orders new Bali and Lombok Airports to be Operational soon

Indonesian Digest


• VP Orders new Bali and Lombok Airports to be Operational soon

Vice President Boediono has instructed Ministers involved in the construction of the new Airports in Bali and Lombok to accelerate construction to increase the number of tourist arrivals to Indonesia, repoted Bisnis Indonesia as quoted from Antara.

Present at the meeting held in mid June, were the Minister for Public Works, Djoko Krmanto, Communications Minister, Freddy Numberi and Chairman of the Presidential team for the Oversight and Monitoring of Development, Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika and West Nusatenggara Governor, Zainul Majdi.

According to Governor Majdi construction of the Lombok’s International airport is 90% completed, and is expected to become operational before the end of 2010.

The main drawback at the moment is clearing 19.9 kilometers of access road from the Airport to the town of Mataram. However, Governor Majdi assured that this has been settled and that therefore construction of the road, planned to be twice 7 meters wide from Mataram to Lombok International Airport and to Kuta in South Lombok can start immediately.

While Public Works Minister, Djoko Kirmanto promised that once the land has been cleared, then the access road can be completed before the end of 2010.

Whereas, regarding the new terminal for Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport this is urgent as the present terminal is no longer capable to properly receive th rapidly expanding numbers of arrivals.

The present international terminal of 65,000 sq, meters will become the domestic terminal. While the present domestic terminal of 13,300 sq. meters will be extended to 120,000 sq meters to become the international terminal. While funds for the expansion totaling Rp. 1.7 trillion will be borne by the Airport Authority of Bali.

Also discussed was the flyover near the airport to reduce congestion, especially on the bypass and at Simpang Siur.

To accelerate contruction, VP Boediono has instructed PT Angkasa Pura I to submit the airport’s masterplan to the Minister for State Enterprises within one week after the meeting.

These projects have been long delayed, said VP’s spokesman, and VP Boediono wants these to be completed as soon as possible, especially considering that Indonesia will host the APEC Conference in 2013.