The condition of an airport at Panjang Island, Pulau Kelapa Urban Village, Kepulauan Seribu Sub-District, Seribu Islands Regency, is very alarming. The area now only left a runway which often used by the fishermen to dry the fish, with overgrown weeds and shrubs around it.

It is estimated that the construction requires budget around Rp 56 billion. But if other supporting facilities included, the budget could reach more than Rp 100 billion

The 11-hectare wide airport has existed since 1973 and was used for the last time for commercial aircraft landing in 1997. The airport had been repaired in 2006, but the repair work got stopped in 2009 and stalled until now.

“I think it’s natural if some fishermen use the runway as place to dry the fish. The important thing is that by the time the airport to be used, such a thing is no longer allowed,” stated Seribu Islands Regent, Asep Syarifudin, Tuesday (12/23).

According to Syarifudin, his ranks have repeatedly held communal cleaning to clean the overgrown weeds and shrubs. But since the area is inhabited and there is no routine maintenance, the runway is covered with weeds and shrubs again.

Because of that, Syarifudin plans to invite private investors to undertake the airport’s improvement. This is because the airport is scheduled to be re-built and re-activated in 2015.

“There have been some investors interested (in this project). We are still reviewing whether to use the system of Build Operation Transfer (BOT) or cooperation system,” he uttered.

The airport’s improvement would include the construction of airport control tower and apron as well as construction of supporting infrastructures like cafe and tourism facility. In addition, the length of the runway would also be increased to 1,200 meters.

“It is estimated that the construction requires budget around Rp 56 billion. But if other supporting facilities included, the budget could reach more than Rp 100 billion,” said Syarifudin.