Construction work on the Jenderal Besar (JB) Soedirman Airport in Purbalingga, Central Java has started, with Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo leading groundbreaking ceremonies.
The airport is expected to be completed by late 2019, Jokowi said after inspecting the airport construction grounds in Purbalingga on April 23.
There is no big airport in southern, western, and central Java; hence, the government’s plan to expand the Wiraba Air Force Base and turn it into the JB Soedirman Airport, said a news report from state-run Antara News.
Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi added that the airport will have an area of 125 hectares. The land from the Air Force base reaches 115 hectares while the local government has provided an additional 10 hectares.
The airport’s terminal will be expanded to 3,000 square meters to accommodate up to 300,000 passengers per year, while extension of the runway will proceed in two stages, according to local media.
In the initial stage, the Transportation Ministry in tandem with state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II will extend the runway from the present 850 meters to 1,600 meters. The runway will also be widened to 2,500 meters in the second stage.
Jokowi expressed hope that the airport would also trigger the development of new economic areas in Purbalingga and the surrounding areas.
He said the airport will offer benefits not only to Purbalingga but also to the adjacent regencies and municipalities of Banjarnegara, Kebumen, Banyumas, Pemalang, Tegal, Brebes, Tegal City, and Wonosobo. “All can use this airport,” he noted.
At present, there are a number of investments and rapidly growing industries in Purbalingga, including the false eyelash industry, said to be the second largest in the world.
“If the airport exists, such investments can be bigger, expandable. We expect not only eyelashes, investments in other fields will also grow rapidly,” the Chief Executive said.
Photo: Nur Cholis
