JAKARTA – The central government is building new housing to relocate residents who have been living on the railway tracks, as well as rearranging the face of a dense area in central Jakarta.
This program is part of President Prabowo Subianto’s direction to encourage the acceleration of handling uninhabitable settlements in urban areas.
The Special Staff of the Governor of DKI Jakarta for Social Communication, Chico Hakim, said that arranging the embankment area was not only about relocation, but also about the safety of residents and the order of urban planning which has been problematic.
“This program is an important breakthrough in slum planning, reducing the risk of train accidents, and providing decent housing for residents,” Chico told reporters, Sunday, April 26.
As a form of support, the DKI Provincial Government has prepared additional housing options for affected residents, especially if the housing capacity from the central government is not sufficient.
“We see this as a good synergy between the center and the region. The DKI Provincial Government has prepared 3 flats (Nagrak, Rorotan, and PIK Pulogadung) as additional temporary relocation options for affected residents,” he explained.
Along with that, the DKI Provincial Government has also prepared supporting infrastructure such as clean water, transportation, to education and health services around the new location in the Kramat Raya, Senen, area.
This approach is taken to avoid the old pattern of relocation which often moves the problem to a new place, not solving it. With the location still in the center of the city, it is hoped that residents will not lose access to their jobs and social networks.
“The DKI Provincial Government is coordinating with PAM Jaya regarding the availability of clean water. The Health Service and the Education Service will ensure access to existing services around Senen. The Transportation Service will integrate public transportation access,” said Chico.
Furthermore, Chico assessed that the arrangement of the rail embankment was urgent to be carried out. So far, the activities of residents who live very close to the train line increase the risk of fatal accidents, especially at points without adequate barriers.
In addition, the existence of settlements on or around state-owned land often triggers legal problems and hinders transportation development. The crackdown on this area is expected to restore land functions as well as improve the more neat and planned urban planning.
“The impact is very positive and significant. Reducing the risk of train accidents and disasters on the railway embankment, Returning state-owned land (PT KAI/Angkasa Pura) to be more orderly and aesthetic, Decent housing will improve children’s health, education, and productivity,” he said.
Previously, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya had halted the construction of housing for residents who had been living on the railway embankment, especially in the Senen Market area, as part of the arrangement of dense settlements and reducing safety risks around active train lines.
“In accordance with the direction of President Prabowo, the government is building decent and comfortable housing for residents who have had to live right on the railway tracks, especially in the Senen Market area, only 2 km from the center of the capital,” said Teddy.
He emphasized that the position of the area which is very close to the city center should no longer be colored by settlements with minimal basic facilities. Therefore, the construction of new housing is directed not far from the original location so that residents remain connected to their economic activities.
To ensure the project runs according to target, Teddy directly reviewed the construction site on Saturday, April 25, 2026. He was accompanied by the President Director of PT Kereta Api Indonesia, Bobby Rasyidin.
This review is carried out to check the physical progress as well as to ensure that the facilities built really answer the needs of residents who will be relocated.
Teddy also revealed that the government’s attention to this area is not new. Previously, President Prabowo had directly reviewed the condition of the residents’ settlement on the side of the railway.
“The President himself suddenly visited the location of the residents’ settlement, exactly 1 month ago, on March 26, 2026,” he said.
The housing that is being built is about 500 meters from the train tracks. This location was chosen to keep residents close to the social environment and sources of livelihood, but with safer living conditions.
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