Cabinet Secretary Hopes Airport Construction in Kediri to Begin in 2019

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung takes picture with Minister of Public Works and Public Housing and Minister of Transportation at Wijaya Kusuma Bridge, Kediri, East Java. (Photo: Anggun/PR)

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung expressed his hope that the airport construction in Kediri, East Java, can start in 2019 since all necessary permits are already issued.

“Hopefully if everything (development of Kediri airport) runs smoothly, the construction can be started in 2019,” said Pramono after inaugurating Wijaya Kusuma Bridge, in Kediri, East Java, Tuesday (29/5).

As a person who grew up in that city, Pramono admitted he had never imagined that Kediri will have an airport.

According to Pramono, all permits for the construction of the airport have been issued by Minister of Transportation, while the Indonesian Air Force has also issued recommendations for the construction. However, there are still technical obstacles related to land acquisition.

“There is a slight change of location (for the airport). So,  we should carry out land acquisition process again,” said Pramono.

He expected the public will support the land acquisition process. He also asked certain parties not to shatter Kediri residents’ dream to have an airport.

“Give opportunity to the public and the land owner to get benefits from this project, not the land agent or realtor,” Pramono added.

Pramono believed if the public supports this project, the construction of this airport will be realized and Kediri will become a developed city.

“Hopefully this area will be developed into new industrial and economic areas. So that our economy is not only centralized in Sidoarjo and Surabaya, but also in Kediri,” said Pramono while adding that the public will enjoy this progress.

Toll Road Construction

On the occasion, Pramono also revealed about the Government’s plan to build toll road from Kertosono to Kediri-Tulungagung.

Thus, Cabinet Secretary together with Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono and Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi are assigned by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to solve problems related to this.

Pramono also added the infrastructure development is currently not only concentrated in Java, but also outside Java. “People in South Sulawesi now can enjoy trains. Other than that, there are toll roads in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Trans-Papua with a length of 3,800 kilometers,” Pramono said. (UN / GUN) (STU/MMB/Naster)