Provincial Government: Wari Airstrip Construction Boosts Tolikara Economy
The Highland Papua Provincial Government, through the local Department of Transportation, has stated that the construction of the airstrip in Wari District, Tolikara Regency, is driving the local economy. Wari District is a lowland, inland area within the Tolikara Regency of Highland Papua, bordering the Mamberamo Raya Regency in Papua.
The Acting Head of the Highland Papua Department of Transportation, Jimmy Yoku, stated in Wamena on Wednesday that the development of the Wari airstrip will expand transportation access for the community across various sectors, notably for selling agricultural and plantation produce.
“With this airstrip, the community will be greatly assisted in terms of transportation, especially for plantation and agricultural products that can be sold outside of Warly using transport that will eventually receive government subsidies,” he said.
According to him, the primary objective of building the airstrip in the inland regions of Highland Papua is to facilitate easier access for the community to and from the area.
“The Governor is paying great attention to ensuring that people in inland areas gain easier access to cities; furthermore, transportation access serves as the primary capital for increasing community income,” he added.
He explained in detail that the Wari airstrip in Tolikara Regency, which has been under construction since last year, measures 800 metres in length and 18 metres in width.
“The length of the Wari airstrip is approximately 800 metres with a width of 18 metres. We are performing runway hardening because the soil is unstable, so reinforcement is necessary to ensure that small aircraft can land in good condition,” he said.
He added that the construction of the airstrip in Wari District, Tolikara Regency, commenced in 2025 to end isolation and accelerate economic growth.
“The construction of the Wari airstrip has been underway since 2025, with an allocated budget of approximately Rp10 billion, despite budget constraints and efficiency measures. We are ensuring that other planned airstrips in Highland Papua will be completed gradually, as our focus is to finish one airstrip before proceeding to the next,” he concluded.