Coordinating Minister AHY: TOD Develops More Productive and Sustainable Areas

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) has emphasised that the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) concept is not merely about building an integrated transportation system, but about improving the quality of life for the community through the development of areas that are more productive, healthy, comfortable, and sustainable. “If an area can integrate residential locations with places of work, education, business, shopping, healthcare, and all the supporting facilities needed for daily activities or living, then ideally our lives become more quality-driven, productive, environmentally green, families healthier, and it can provide more time to improve the quality of our human resources overall,” AHY said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday. According to him, the increasing trend of urbanisation requires the government to prepare urban areas capable of integrating various community activities, from housing, employment centres, and education to health services, economic hubs, and public spaces within a single ecosystem supported by connected mass transportation. With this concept, it is hoped that the public can reduce travel time, increase productivity, and have more time with family. AHY explained that TOD development is one answer to various urban challenges, such as congestion, rising carbon emissions, limited space, and declining environmental quality. Therefore, area development must not only focus on transport infrastructure but must also integrate spatial planning, land use, active mobility, economic activity, environmental sustainability, and social aspects of the community. He stated that future urban development must be people-centred, so the benefits of development are truly felt by the community through improved quality of life, mobility efficiency, and regional economic growth. “Fundamentally, TOD is an effort to integrate various community needs into one interconnected and mutually supportive area. The community can live, work, shop, access education, health services, and various public facilities within an integrated area. All these activities are supported by a public transport system that is comfortable, safe, and interconnected,” AHY said. He also stressed that the success of TOD depends heavily on the synergy of all stakeholders. The central government, local governments, state-owned enterprises, the private sector, academics, communities, and the public must move together so that area development can provide optimal benefits.