Jakarta - Angkasa Pura Airports has begun the construction and expansion of Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang, Central Java. The new airport terminal will be constructed over a swamp site or floating above water. The construction of the airport that is aimed to have a capacity of 6-7 million passengers annually, this year has begun due to the over capacity of the airport. What is the reason for Angkasa Pura Airports to build the first airport in Indonesia constructed over water?
The Corporate Secretary of the Angkasa Pura Airports, Farid Indra Nugraha explained that the main consideration in constructing this airport is the environmental issues.
The first aspect to consider is that the airport is built over a mangrove forest. "Angkasa Pura Airports wants to build an airport with a concept that does not harm the environment. The concept is eco airport," stated Farid to Detik Finance at the Jakarta office of Angkasa Pura Airports, on Wednesday (06/18/2014).
The second consideration is to preserve the existing biological ecosystem in the new terminal. Consequently, the terminal is constructed on top of a structure of piles, similar to the toll highway over the Bali seas ensuring that the ecosystem under the airport is preserved. "Secondly, utilizing the technological building pattern. The Airport construction can use pilings and we want to preserve the ecosystem there. Let the living biota live normally under the airport," he said.
However, Farid admitted that to build the apron or aircraft parking area, the contractor needs to fill up the mangrove forest. "The apron site had to be land-filled, but as for the terminal they will not disturb the site" he explained. Another consideration is the technical factor and regulatory factors, because there is a military base on part of the land and a double track railway line which is not likely to be shifted. [Diani Sekaring Sejati/Source: Detik Finance]
