KAI's Explanation on the Regulation of Squatter Settlements Along the Senen Railway Tracks

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero)’s President Director, Bobby Rasyidin, stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s inspection of the railway track edges near Pasar Senen Station in Central Jakarta on Thursday (26/3/2026) marks the beginning of accelerated planning around the rail lines.

According to Bobby, the President instructed the inventory of residents’ settlements along the track edges.

“It starts from the Pasar Senen area and will be expanded to all KAI-managed tracks with similar conditions as the basis for directed planning,” Bobby said in a press release confirmed by Kompas.com on Friday (27/3/2026).

“Additionally, the President emphasised the need to prepare structured housing solutions through collaboration with relevant ministries, both in the short and long term,” he continued.

According to Bobby, they are coordinating with the Ministry of Public Works for short-term solutions, and with other ministries and parties for long-term ones.

“For the Pasar Senen area, KAI will conduct further checks and studies as the initial stage, which will then be expanded to other points along the railway tracks,” Bobby explained.

“The planning of trackside areas is directed towards providing decent housing while creating a safer and more orderly environment around the rail lines,” he clarified.

Bobby continued that they manage more than 327 million square metres of railway land with potential to support housing development.

In the Jabodetabek region, the development potential reaches around 131,000 housing units located near transport hubs.

“Planning settlements around rail tracks is an important part of providing a more decent environment for the community while strengthening railway travel safety,” Bobby added.

The location visited by the President is right next to Pasar Gaplok, Kramat Ward.

According to Iis (45), one of the vegetable traders, the vehicle carrying the President initially stopped in front of Pasar Gaplok. The Head of State then entered the market and shook hands with the traders.

“He came in the afternoon. The market was already closed, but some traders were still packing up. I was still at my stall,” Iis said when met by Kompas.com at Pasar Gaplok on Friday (27/3/2026).