Not PMKS, These Are the Culprits Behind the Stinging Urine Smell at Palmerah Station Footbridge

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Gelora sub-district head Nurbin Togar has revealed that the urine smell at the Palmerah Station footbridge in Central Jakarta is caused by certain ojek drivers and pedestrians who urinate indiscriminately. This statement corrects the initial public suspicion that the unpleasant odour originated from individuals with social welfare issues (PMKS) who often rest in the area. “It turns out it’s not PMKS. However, there are irresponsible individuals causing the urine smell. There are no PMKS at the location,” Nurbin told Kompas.com via text message on Friday (24/4/2026). “The cause is certain ojek drivers from the base and people passing by who urinate under the footbridge. That’s according to information from the surroundings, but passersby might do it too,” he said. Following the complaints, a joint team consisting of the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), Public Facilities and Infrastructure Handling (PPSU) of Gelora sub-district, and the Central Jakarta Environmental Office was deployed to clean the location on Thursday (23/4/2026) afternoon. “The complaint about the smell has been handled, specifically yesterday afternoon on Thursday (23/4/2026). For now, we have followed up according to our authority and coordinated with the relevant offices to resolve it within their remit,” Nurbin explained. The pavement floor and gutter area were scrubbed with brooms and soapy water, then doused with carbolic solution to eliminate the stinging urine smell. As a preventive measure, access to the underfootbridge area was immediately closed temporarily. “The officers immediately followed up on the report by cleaning it and temporarily fencing off access for people to urinate under the Palmerah Station footbridge, as well as coordinating with the Public Works agency for repairs to the damaged fence,” Nurbin stated. Previously, the unpleasant smell was reported again in the area of the Palmerah Transjakarta bus stop, Gelora sub-district, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (22/4/2026). Based on Kompas.com’s observations on Wednesday afternoon, the urine aroma was detected from under the footbridge in the pavement area near Palmerah Market. Rubbish was seen scattered, while the stinging smell was suspected to come from the gutter area on the side of the wall, which could only be accessed through a gap.