City Hall a danger to planes: Official

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

The planned construction of a 16-story City Hall should be stopped because it would obstruct the flight path to Polonia Airport in Medan, a senior government official has said.

Farhan Tanjung, head of the North Sumatra Communications Office, said the construction of the building violated an air communications regulation that no buildings taller than 54 meters can be built near the airport.

The planned building, which will stand about one kilometer from the airport, has an estimated height of more than 54 meters, and thus violated the regulation, Farhan said.

"If the construction of the building goes ahead as planned, aircraft will have difficulties in maneuvering during takeoff and landing," he said.

Farhan has reported the matter to the Ministry of Communications and hoped it would order the Medan administration to stop the construction.

Despite the pressure, Medan Mayor Abdillah insisted that construction would proceed.

A similar objection over the construction of the City Hall was filed earlier by the head of Bank Indonesia's Medan branch, Hadi Hassim.

Hadi said the building, which will be built in a lot adjacent to the bank, would affect security and make the bank susceptible to robberies.