47 Slum Neighbourhoods in North Jakarta, City Government Prepares Handling Strategy

The North Jakarta City Government has outlined a strategy to address 47 neighbourhood units (RW) classified as slums, prioritising densely populated areas and strengthening interventions in basic infrastructure. North Jakarta Mayor Hendra Hidayat stated that Penjaringan subdistrict currently has the highest number of slum settlements in North Jakarta. “More specifically, Penjaringan ward has the most slum RWs, namely 9 RWs, making it a priority focal point that requires more serious attention in efforts to improve settlement quality in the North Jakarta region,” Hendra said when contacted by Kompas.com on Thursday (7/5/2026). Of that number, two RWs are in the moderate slum category, 11 RWs in the light slum category, and 34 RWs in the very light slum category. Hendra explained that the handling of slum areas is now directed towards a comprehensive area planning concept, including through plans for vertical housing development using the Vertical Land Consolidation (KTV) scheme. “One concrete form is the implementation of the Vertical Land Consolidation (KTV) study that is currently underway in RW 15, Pejagalan ward. This step reflects a paradigm shift in settlement planning that is more sustainable and oriented towards optimising land amid existing space constraints,” he clarified. Sanitation improvements are also being carried out through the construction of Wastewater Treatment Installations (IPAL). For coastal areas, drainage planning is beginning to be integrated with the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) sea wall project. “In particular, mandatory channel construction must be connected to the Polder System (reservoirs and pumps) built in the NCICD project,” he said. Hendra emphasised that area planning continues despite administrative obstacles related to land status. As success indicators for the next 12 months, the North Jakarta City Government has set two main targets: the preparation of planning documents for five slum RWs that have not yet been reached by programmes, and the realisation of physical construction in nine slum RWs that have been documented. “These two targets reflect a balanced approach between medium-term planning and short-term concrete actions,” he added.