Banten haj dormitory to be built in Legok district

Banten haj dormitory to be built in Legok district

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post/Tangerang

After years of aborted planning, the Tangerang regency is to
finally built a haj dormitory for Banten province in Bojong
Nangka, Legok, about 15 kilometers south of the Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport.

"We have acquired a 14-hectare plot of land for the dormitory.
We will start construction work after the central government
approves the plan," Regent Ismet Iskandar told The Jakarta Post
on Saturday.

The previous plan in 2003 for the dormitory was in Sepatan,
about three kilometers from the airport. Project financier, the
Ministry of Religious Affairs had approved the plan, however, the
administration canceled it with little explanation.

The administration has appointed construction company PT Lippo
Karawaci Tbk to handle the project.

Ismet said he had requested the Ministry of Transportation
convert the Budiarto air base in Curug into a commercial airport.

The base is currently used as a flight training center for the
Indonesian State Aviation School (STPI).

"If the ministry approves our proposal, we can use the airport
for haj pilgrims and as a cargo terminal because the location is
close to the Jakarta-Merak toll road that connects the air and
seaports," Ismet said.

To support the integration of the infrastructure, the
administration plans to begin construction on the Serpong-
Balaraja toll road next year, while building is underway for the
regency's 32-k.m. south ring road, connecting regency capital
Tigaraksa with the Cisauk and Serpong districts.