The construction of several airports in Papua and West Papua provinces has continued to progress despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has affirmed.
Earlier, Minister Sumadi, Investment Minister and Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board head, Bahlil Lahadalia, West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan, and other regional officials had visited two airport construction sites in Siboru, Fak-Fak district, and Rendani, Manokwari district, in West Papua on Friday.
“President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ordered us to expedite airport development projects in Papua and West Papua provinces, and to accelerate regional development; we decided to construct an airport in Siboru region. We are committed to completing the airport construction, despite we need to extort more effort due to the difficult terrain at the construction site,” Sumadi said in Jakarta on Friday.
Sumadi explained the construction of Siboru Airport has reached 30-percent completion. Construction of the airport commenced in 2020, he noted.
Upon completion, The airport is expected to accelerate regional development and enhance connectivity in the West Papua region, he added.
The Siboru Airport is being developed to complement the existing Torea Airport, also in Fak-Fak, that cannot accommodate larger aircraft as the airport’s only runway spans just 1,400 m in length, he said.
“We hope the new Siboru Airport would enhance connectivity, and economic and tourism activities from and to the Fak-Fak region,” Sumadi said.
Besides Siboru Airport, the ministers and government officials also visited the construction site for Rendani Airport in Manokwari, West Papua.
At present, a box culvert is being built at the airport, and road and bridge access to the airport is being developed, Sumadi informed.
The airport’s runway will be extended to 2,300 m from the current length of 2,000 m to allow larger aircraft to land in Rendani, he added.
“We hope the new airport would accelerate regional economy and tourism, as well as enhance air connectivity between regions,” Sumadi said.
He confirmed the ministry is also developing new airports for Papua and West Papua provinces in Nabire, Anggi, Illaga, and Ewer regions. (
Source: Antara News