Resolve the question of the road leading to the airport immediately. The coordinating minister for economic affairs will soon follow it up,"C Lombok, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has given the green light to West Nusa Tenggara Governor M Zainul Majdi`s proposal to extend the newly-inaugurated Lombok international airport`s runway to allow wide-bodied planes to land.
"I agree with the governor`s proposal to extend the runway to 3,000 meters from 2,750 meters," the President said when inaugurating the airport located at Tanah Awu, Pujut sub-district, Central Lombok district, West Nusa Tenggara province, on Thursday.
On the occasion, the President also instructed Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa to address problems related to roads heading to the airport.
The airport has been operating since October 1 before the President inaugurated it on Thursday. Several parts of the road leading to the airport were not yet completed when the airport was inaugurated.
"Resolve the question of the road leading to the airport immediately. The coordinating minister for economic affairs will soon follow it up," he said.
The President said he had seen for himself the construction of a 21.3 km road connecting the airport to Gerung in West Lombok district.
In his address, West Nusa Tenggara Governor M. Zainul Majdi asked for the President`s support for further development of the airport.
Zainul who is also chief of the West Nusa Tenggara provincial chapter of the Democratic Party said the local government would continue its struggle to set up a hajj embarkation terminal at the airport.
"We have asked the President to help realize the building of a f hajj embarkation terminal at the airport. However, we still have to extend the runway to a minimum of 3,000 meters from 2,750 meters," Zainul said.
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Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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