Airport renovation to start

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): The restoration and expansion of Adisumarmo Airport in Surakarta into an international gateway is to start soon as the government has allocated a budget of Rp 43 billion (US$18,2 million) for the project, an official said.

"The restoration work will start next month and is scheduled to finish by year-end," Gatot Seodjantoko, head of Central Java's transportation office, said here yesterday.

The restoration will include the extension of the airport's runaway from 1,900 meters to 5,600 meters and the construction of facilities for haj pilgrimage flights.

Gatot said the government also plans to extend the runway at Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang next year from 1,850 meters to 2,250 meters and to build a "pioneer airport" in Tegal in the near future. (har/jsk)