Construction of the planned international airport in Kulon Progo district, Yogyakarta province in Indonesia will kick off mid-2016, according to the country’s vice president.
“God willing, it will be built starting May. Hopefully, land clearance and design will be completed in May so it can be completed in 2019 or 2020,” said Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla recently.
This after all serious problems related to the planned construction of the airport have been resolved, according to a report by Antara News.
“There are no longer any land problems. The Yogyakarta governor has ordered [his staff] to resolve them. Furthermore, state airport operator Angkasa Pura I is also ready,” he said.
Construction funds will come from the budget of Angkasa Pura I, a state enterprise of the Indonesian Department of Transport that is responsible for managing airports in Indonesia, and the company will partner with foreign parties to build and manage the airport, he said.
The project will also include the laying down of ancillary roads and railway tracks. Construction of the airport, aimed at helping boost foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia, hit a snag in 2013 over issues of land purchase tax that was way above Angkasa Pura’s budget. The government has decided to pick up the tab.
Once complete in three or four years, the airport will become Yogyakarta’s main air gateway, replacing Adi Sucipto airport that also serves as the headquarters of the country’s air force.
The new international airport will be built on land measuring over 600 hectares with a runway reaching 3,250 meters. The initial plan is to provide facilities to serve up to 10 million passengers per year. Later expansion plans are to accommodate up to 20 million passengers annually.
Photo: Pizzaboy1
