Families who once lived alongside the railway tracks in the Senen district of Jakarta are preparing for a transition to a new form of government-provided housing. Following a relocation effort at the complete of last month, 324 households (KK) are set to move into compact units designed for rapid deployment, though the layout has sparked conversation due to its minimal footprint.
The new housing project, spearheaded by the Ministry of Housing and Residential Areas (PKP), consists of units measuring 4.5 by 4.5 meters. Unlike traditional homes, these residences are designed as single, open-concept spaces without separate bedrooms, a detail confirmed during a recent site visit by Minister Maruarar Sirait and Dony Oskaria, Head of the BUMN Management Agency (BP BUMN).
This initiative is part of a broader push under the direction of President Prabowo Subianto to expedite the provision of decent housing for those displaced from high-risk areas, such as railway embankments. By leveraging the speed of state-owned enterprises (BUMN), the government aims to move residents into these permanent structures within a matter of weeks.
Single-Room Living: The Layout and Amenities
The design of the Senen housing units prioritizes utility and speed of construction over architectural complexity. According to a representative from Hutama Karya, one of the lead construction firms on the project, each unit is a single “open” room. The interior is planned to be basic, equipped only with two beds, a wardrobe, and a fan to manage the tropical heat.
While the lack of interior walls may be a significant adjustment for families, the government has emphasized that the homes will be fully integrated into the city’s utility grid. Every unit will be provided with electricity and clean water through the PDAM network, ensuring a baseline of sanitation and safety that was often missing in the informal settlements along the tracks.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Unit Dimensions | 4.5 x 4.5 meters |
| Interior Layout | Single open room (no separate bedrooms) |
| Furnishings | 2 beds, 1 wardrobe, 1 electric fan |
| Essential Utilities | PDAM water and PLN electricity |
| Total Units | 324 households |
Land Use and Community Planning
The housing complex is being developed on a 5,600-square-meter plot of land owned by Angkasa Pura. To optimize the space, the settlement is divided into two primary sections: one area containing 172 units and a front section with 152 units.
Planners have integrated community-centric spaces to offset the tiny size of the individual homes. A dedicated open area will serve as a children’s playground, providing a safe environment for the neighborhood’s youngest residents. The government has ensured that the existing local mosque will not be demolished, preserving a vital spiritual and social hub for the community.
Rapid Construction Timeline
The scale of the mobilization is significant, with the government deploying approximately 470 workers to the site. The project is a collaborative effort between three major state-owned construction giants: Hutama Karya, PP, and WIKA. This partnership is designed to compress the construction timeline to a degree rarely seen in urban housing projects.
Dony Oskaria, Head of the BP BUMN, stated that the construction process began on April 3, 2026, with a strict target for completion by June 15, 2026. This aggressive 2.5-month window is intended to minimize the time residents spend in temporary shelters after their relocation from the railway tracks.
A Broader Strategy for Jakarta’s Railway Zones
The Senen project is not an isolated event but the first step in a wider urban cleanup and housing strategy. Following the progress in Senen, officials are turning their attention to other critical areas where residents live in precarious conditions along the rail lines.
Minister Maruarar Sirait and Dony Oskaria have scheduled visits to sites in Tanah Abang and Kampung Bandan to coordinate similar efforts on land owned by the railway authority. These subsequent projects will follow a similar model of inter-agency collaboration, involving the Ministry of BUMN and the DKI Jakarta provincial government to streamline permits and land acquisition.
The overarching goal is to demonstrate “state presence” by replacing informal, dangerous dwellings with legalized, structured housing. While the “no-room” layout of the Senen units may be a point of contention for some, the government views it as a necessary trade-off to ensure that hundreds of families are moved out of harm’s way and into secure housing as quickly as possible.
The next major milestone for the Senen residents will be the official handover of the keys, scheduled for mid-June, provided the BUMN construction teams meet their 75-day deadline.
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