1,000 Modular Huntara Units Ready to be Built in Pasar Senen-Tanah Abang

The government has taken a drastic step to untangle the complex issue of slum settlements in the heart of the capital, Jakarta. The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is currently developing a scheme to build 1,000 units of Temporary Housing (Huntara) based on modular technology to relocate residents who have long settled along railway tracks. The main target areas are the densely populated zones around Pasar Senen and Tanah Abang Stations. Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo revealed that the choice of modular technology is a primary consideration to meet targets for speedy construction. Adopting the success of construction worker housing (HPK) in the Nusantara Capital (IKN), the modular model allows buildings to be erected in a short time without compromising quality. He stated that the Ministry of PU is coordinating with relevant ministries. The plan is to create 1,000 units of temporary housing. Interestingly, these Huntara units will not expand horizontally due to land limitations but will grow vertically. Dody indicated that the housing is likely to take the form of low-rise buildings with about 3 to 4 storeys. Given the urgency of the President’s directive, the Ministry of PU will certainly collaborate with state-owned construction companies as the spearhead of development. Major names such as PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk. (WIKA), PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk, or PT PP Properti Tbk, which have strong track records in modular construction, are among the primary candidates. According to him, the state-owned construction companies have the technical capacity to transform limited land in areas owned by PT KAI into functional housing. This relocation is designed so that residents do not lose economic access. With the TOD concept, Huntara will be directly integrated with stations and public transport routes. “The key lies in the meeting with PT KAI. I need to know first how much land area there is, its position, whether it’s in one expanse or scattered. Once coordination with KAI is clear, we can discuss design and budget in detail,” he emphasised.