KAI Says Space Under Railway Flyovers Can Be Used for Children's Sports

Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Daerah Operasi (Daop) 1 Jakarta has stated that the space under railway flyovers, managed in cooperation with the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, can be utilised as public spaces, including for children’s sports activities. Manager of Public Relations for KAI Daop 1 Jakarta, Franoto Wibowo, said the utilisation of the area has been regulated through a Cooperation Agreement between PT KAI, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, and the Directorate General of Railways of the Ministry of Transportation. “There is already a three-party cooperation agreement regarding the utilisation of the area under railway flyovers as a Child-Friendly Integrated Public Space (RPTRA) which can be used, among other things, for children’s play activities,” Franoto said when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Monday. He said the public space under the railway flyover can also be used for various sports activities. With this cooperation on the utilisation of the space under the railway flyover as an RPTRA, PT KAI hopes that the company’s assets can provide benefits to the community, including becoming a space for children to engage in activities and sports. “So it can also be used for children to play football or other sports,” he said. The statement was made following the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government’s commitment to adding sports facilities for children in response to the widespread phenomenon of ‘liga aspal’, or street football competitions played on roads. Previously, DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo assessed that the ‘liga aspal’ phenomenon indicates the limited sports facilities in the capital. Although these activities bring happiness to children, he said the situation warrants government attention to provide more adequate sports facilities. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is committed to providing more suitable sports facilities so that children have safe spaces to play while also supporting sports development in residential areas. “Although not everything can be done yet, we are currently rebuilding some of them,” Pramono explained. As is known, the phenomenon of street football leagues has become increasingly widespread in densely populated settlements in Jakarta, such as Liga Akamsi in Tambora, West Jakarta and Liga Aspal in Menteng Jaya, Central Jakarta. Both community-run leagues emerged from concerns over the high cost of renting futsal pitches and the lack of green open spaces in densely populated villages.