REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- Land clearing has been the main drag on projects to expand a number of airports in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), a provincial official said.

"The central government or the communications ministry has approved plans to expand a number of airports in the region but the local people refused to sell lands needed by the airport at reasonable prices," head of the provincial communications office Ricard Djami said.

Many local people are not aware of the benefit the region would get from the development of the airports, Ricard said here on Thursday.

"We plan to expand all airports in NTT to be able to accommodate wide bodied aircraft," he said.

He said the airstrip of 14 of 15 airports in NTT are being strengthened and widened but not up to 250 meters.

He hoped that district administration could help in convincing the land owners that expansion of the aircraft would also benefit them.

He said airports are vital for transport needed to boost economic development in one of the country's poorest regions.

The expansion of airports in Sabu Raijua, Atambua, and a number of other district areas has to be delayed on land clearing difficulty.

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