Mimika to develop 4 'pioneering' airports this year
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 04/01/2011 9:54 AM
Papua's Mimika regency administration this year plans to develop one new “pioneering” airport and upgrade three existing ones in efforts to support increasing traffic to and fro the area.
The new airport will be built in Kampung Geselema in Jila district; while airports in Alama (also in Jila), Jita and Potowayburu (in Far West Mimika district) will receive infrastructure and facilities improvements, Mimika Transportation Agency official John Rettob said Thursday in Timika, the capital of Mimika.
Geselema airport will have a 600-meter runway, John said.
Alama airport will keep its 500-meter runway, but this will be surfaced with asphalt replacing the existing grass cover.
John said the development of the airports was a top priority for Mimika administration, but added that the projects could not be possibly completed this year with the limited funding available.
“There is only Rp 500 million [US$57,500] each for Geselema and Alama airports. We can't possibly build an airport with that amount, when the fee to rent an airplane there can cost hundreds of millions [of rupiah],” John said, as quoted by Antara.
