Lombok airport should be complete by October

The construction of the Lombok International Airport, West Nusa Tenggara, is scheduled to be completed by October this year, officials said Sunday.

In a coordinating meeting between Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Transportation Minister Jusman Syafeii Djamal and State Enterprises Minister Sofyan Djalil in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Kalla stressed the urgency of completing the project in order to support a Dubai Emaar Properties investment being proposed for the island.

Kalla said the completion of the airport was expected to coincide with the completion of the proposed tourism resort.

The airport, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 and set for operation in 2010, has cost more than Rp 800 billion.

Kompas.com reported that nearly 70 percent of the construction on the runway was complete, while about 65 percent of work on the passenger terminal and parking area was still to be finished.