Denpasar, July 11 -- Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has backed plans to expand Lt. Col. Wisnu Airfield in Buleleng District, transforming it into an air transport hub for northern Bali to ease pressure on the Ngurah Rai International Airport.

"This is about developing an existing airport. We hope to realize the initiative to enable northern Bali to grow and keep up with southern Bali," Purwagandhi said during a meeting with Bali Governor Wayan Koster in Denpasar on Saturday.

Purwagandhi stated that the initiative underscores the central government's commitment to addressing Bali's transport bottlenecks, citing Ngurah Rai's capacity constraints and inadequate maritime transport connectivity amid rising tourism demand.

The mini...