Kediri Airport to start construction in early 2020
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Investor Daily : Bandara Kediri akan Dibangun Awal 2020
2 September 2019
By: Eko Adityo Nugroho
Kediri – The government ensured that Kediri Airport construction project would start in early 2020, after it had been appointed as a national strategic project. The international airport will be finished in late 2021.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that Kediri Regency in East Java was chosen to have an international airport for its strategic location compared to surrounding regencies. “After years of study, the government decides to build an airport in Kediri, over seven other regencies,” he stated in Kediri last week.
Based on Investor Daily’s records, the airport, initiated by PT Gudang Garam, will be build on a 400-hectare land with a projected investment requirement of around Rp5 trillion to Rp7.5 trillion. This airport will be built with a runway spanning 3,000 metres. However, in the early stage, the length of the runway will only be 2,400 metres.
Budi said that the government project, which is a national strategic construction, desperately needed the public’s support so that it could be realised soon. Moreover, the airport will provide benefits to residents of Kediri and other regions. The benefits include improving connectivity as well as boosting the economy, thus affecting the region’s development.
“If [this area] becomes an airport, then the surrounding regions will grow to be new economic centres, which will include industries, culinary [locations], and tourism [destinations],” he stated.
From the government’s experience in fully building airports, he continued that there were many benefits of the infrastructure. For example it will increase the number of tourists, facilitate residents in travelling, as well as provide work opportunities for residents.
“In Kulon Progo, construction only took two years. This also goes for Kediri Airport, the construction which we will implement at the start of the year, God willing, it will not take more than two years to finish. There are many work opportunities for residents during construction. It gets better, after the airport is built, there will be an abundance of work opportunities,” the Transportation Minister revealed.
Land
During the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luut Binsar Pandjaitan hopes that land acquisition progress for the construction of Kediri Airport can be finished soon, thus construction can start immediately. “We hope that there will be no provocation. Only 20 hectares are left. This [airport] will surely benefit the public,” he said.
Luhut also added that if the land acquisition had been finished, the cornerstone laying ceremony of Kediri Airport could be held immediately. In fact, if the land acquisition is finished soon, the ceremony can be held as soon as early 2020.
“We hope that the cornerstone laying [ceremony] can be held in January next year (2020). We have delayed [the construction] for a year. So, if we start [construction] in January next year, I think we will be finished in late 2021, similar to Kulon Progo Airport,” Luhut stated.
Luhut reminded for the Kediri residents, who had their lands affected by the airport construction, to not be easily provoked by the parties who wanted to get in the way of the airport construction. His agency guarantees that the government will provide the best and will not detriment the public.
“No one wants to detriment the public. [We] will surely provide benefits as it is the President’s orders, [which is] providing the best for the people,” he affirmed.
Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Ministry Sofyan A. Djalil added that, in acquiring lands for the airport, the government could turn to Law Number 2 of 2012 on Land Procurement for the Development of Public Interests.
However, he said that in resolving land acquisition in Kediri, a business to business (B2B) scheme was still utilised. If there are still issues, the government is going to refer to Law Number 2 of 2012, thus reimbursement will be provided in court.
Sofyan said that, during land acquisition process in Sumatra for Bakauheni-Palembang segment of Trans Sumatra toll road, the residents asked for the toll road to go through their lands. The reason for this is that the reimbursement value will be four times the NJOP (taxable value of property).
“The government does not detriment the public, it prioritises the public’s welfare. Economic development in Kediri will create work opportunities,” Sofyan stated.
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa affirmed that the provincial government supported the airport construction fully. The airport construction in Kediri Regency can accelerate regional development.
“We are thankful to the Minister, welcome to East Java. Give us reinforcement, access, strategic programs, and improvement program acceleration in East Java. May [the airport construction] be a part of a good understanding,” he said.
