Although the expansion work of Sultan Syarif Kasim Airport in Pekanbaru is considered illegal due to the absence of written endorsement (IMB), the airport authority has shunned the requirement.
In a bid to accommodate the growing number of visitors due to robust economic growth in the province, the airport has expanded in the facility that includes the departure and arrival compartment, taxi way, apron and the waiting lounge.
Firdaus CES, the head of the city’s spatial planning office, warned over the weekend that the construction work could end in stalemate if the authority did not comply with the requested procedure.
Firdaus said his office had sent a warning letter, urging airport authority PT Angkasa Pura II to comply with the standardized operational procedure for the building work.
“The mayor has instructed a persuasive approach on Angkasa Pura II, which has simply been requested to comply with the procedure.
“The building may be for public facilities, but a building permit is still needed.”
He said the warning letter had to be sent after the airport authority neglected a verbal warning when it was about to commence the project.
Threatening legal action for ignoring further the warning, Firdaus said the call for compliance with the regulations carried a message that the law should impartially be applicable to everyone.
The Angkasa Pura management has snubbed the call, arguing that they only needed an endorsement only from the transportation office, based on the law on aviation, number 1, 2009 article 215.
“Article 13 of the regional regulation, number 70, 2001 about air service also stipulates that the permit from the municipal administration office is compulsory only for the building of supporting premises such as parking lot, shops, restaurants and hotels inside the airport area. So, this is only a misunderstanding,” said Dedi Suryana, an official of Angkasa Pura II.
Despite the controversy, Dedi said the project would continue and is expected to be completed this year.
The expanded airport is expected not only to accommodate 4,000 passengers but to be able to hold a long-haul Boeing 747.
“The airport needs to expand because Riau has seen economic growth and more people are coming to Riau,” Dedi said, adding the authority would have to consult with Directorate General of the Air Transportation office before responding to the warning.
Councilor Kamaruzzaman viewed Angkasa Pura’s negligence to the warning as a snub to the
city administration and called for stern action.
“With Riau being a self-managed administration, the law it issues and imposes must be complied with by everyone. Although the work is for public facility, Angkasa Pura must coordinate with the city, which contributes to clearing the land plot for the airport,” he said.
As a form of support to the city, he said, the legislative council would summon Angkasa Pura officials if they did not heed the warning.
“We must find a solution because this will affect regional revenue,” he said.
“The city regulations on the building permit are not partial to who the owners of the building are or whether the building uses private, regional or national budget.
All must seek the permit. Stern action must be taken if the rules are not heeded.”
