Ground breaking for Singkawang airport project to take place in May

Pontianak, W Kalimantan, March 28 (Antaranews Kalbar) - The ground breaking for the Singkawang airport project is expected to take place in May this year the city`s Mayor Tjhai Chui Mie said.

The airport is to be built in the village of Pangmilang, sub-district of South Singkawang.

"Discussion on the project continue in process. I hope the groundbreaking could take place in May," Tjhai Chui Mie said here on Tuesday.

He said a team of appraisers have checked the location and calculate the land price before the process of land clearing begins.

The preparatory process is expected to be wrapped up in April that a groundbreaking ceremony could be held in May, he added.

So far , there has be no significant problem in the early preparations in connection with the location as calculation of the land price is still in process, the mayor said.

"I have talked with the land owners and they support the plan to build an airport in that location. Certainly we are expected to give them a reasonable price," he said.

The local people including the landowners are expected to contribute to realization of the project that is expected to help accelerate the process of modernization of the city, he said.

"I believe the people are aware of the importance of the project for the city development," he said.

He said the central government had indicated support for the implementation of the project especially as there is no problem in land clearing, which has been the main drag in most infrastructure projects of the government.

The Transport Ministry already granted the license and we are now in the process of land clearing," he added.

He said the plan would be implemented by phases from the early preparation until the physical construction.

"We will continue to hold meetings on the project. Every week we will meet on the plan to discuss the progress," he said.