Government Pushes Summarecon Bekasi Station Extension TOD as National Model
The government is encouraging the development of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) area at Summarecon Bekasi to become a model for integrated urban development in Indonesia, in line with efforts to improve people’s quality of life and reduce congestion in urban areas.
Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), is pushing for the development of the TOD area at Summarecon Bekasi to become a model for other cities in Indonesia.
AHY said the development of urban areas based on public transport is needed to create cities that are more integrated, productive, and comfortable for residents.
“We are encouraging TOD, or transit-based urban area development like what is being developed at this location, to become a model for other cities in Indonesia,” said AHY during the groundbreaking of the Bekasi Station Extension TOD development on Friday (24/7).
According to him, TOD development must be carried out through synergy and collaboration between the central government, regional governments, developers, and all relevant stakeholders.
Such collaboration is needed to integrate residential areas with centres of employment, education, business, shopping, healthcare, and various facilities that support daily life.
“If an area can integrate people’s housing, workplaces, education, business, shopping, healthcare, and all supporting facilities for daily life, then ideally the quality of life of the community will improve,” he said.
AHY assessed that developing areas integrated with public transport can help untangle congestion and reduce people’s travel time.
He said the travel time savings would deliver economic benefits while also increasing productivity and families’ quality of life.
He added that Bekasi City holds a strategic position as one of Jakarta’s satellite cities. Therefore, population growth and regional development must be managed with careful planning.
“The Jabodetabek area is one of the most important centres of gravity and we must safeguard its carrying capacity,” said AHY.
According to him, rising population numbers, limited space, and declining regional carrying capacity could trigger various economic and social problems if not addressed through appropriate development policies.
AHY also stressed that TOD development must comply with spatial planning regulations and have certainty over land status.
“Urban and regional development must be placed properly in accordance with the regional spatial plan. The land must also be ensured to be clear and clean so as not to cause problems later on,” he said.
He reminded that the development of the Bekasi Station Extension TOD should not only focus on physical construction, but must also deliver tangible benefits to the community.
“What is the impact on the community? It should enable people to live better, more comfortably, and more productively,” said AHY.
Deputy Minister of Transportation Suntana viewed the groundbreaking of the Bekasi Station extension construction as a strategic step in strengthening the railway network. According to him, railway development is no longer only oriented towards providing infrastructure, but is also directed at improving the quality of urban spatial planning and encouraging people to switch to mass transit.
“Through the expansion of Bekasi Station, we are weaving a future of more modern urban connectivity to accommodate increased service capacity and seamless intermodal integration,” said Suntana.
West Java Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan said the groundbreaking of the Bekasi Station extension was not merely a first-stone-laying ceremony. According to him, the project symbolises a step forward towards better urban spatial planning, more efficient mobility, and more inclusive economic growth.
Erwan described Bekasi as one of the important areas in West Java that continues to develop into a centre of economic activity, housing, and public mobility.
“With the presence of the Bekasi Station Extension TOD area, we hope Bekasi will not only become a hub of movement, but also an area that is comfortable, productive, and liveable,” said Erwan.
President Director of PT Summarecon Agung Tbk, Adrianto P. Adhi, said the development of the Bekasi Station Extension TOD is targeted for completion within 18 months. In the project, PT Summarecon Agung Tbk is developing the TOD with an investment value of around Rp80 billion.
“We will build this extension station within 18 months with an investment of around Rp80 billion,” said Adrianto.
The project is being built on a plot of land of around 7,000 square metres with a building area of approximately 6,000 square metres. Adrianto said the TOD extension of Bekasi Station will help ease passenger density at the station currently in operation.
Later, the old station and the extension station will have a division of service functions based on the direction of passenger movement. The extension station is projected to serve passengers from the southern and western areas, while the existing station will continue to serve passengers from other directions.
He expressed hope that the project can be completed on target so that its benefits can soon be felt by the community.
“We hope everything can be managed well so that the public can immediately enjoy its benefits,” he said.