Pondok Indah Sidewalks Reverted to Paving Blocks After Temporary Use of Hebel

In the Pondok Indah area of Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, sidewalks that were previously replaced with lightweight bricks or hebel have now been reverted to paving blocks or konblok. Based on observations by Kompas.com on Wednesday (1/4/2026), the sidewalks have been restored using paving blocks arranged in a standard pattern, although some sections appear not entirely neat. In front of the area, piles of leftover materials from the work, consisting of irregularly stacked lightweight bricks (hebel), are visible. Some fragments of old paving blocks are also scattered nearby. A long wooden beam is installed transversely and supported by bamboo poles, resembling a temporary barrier over the sidewalk. Around the area, hanging cables near utility poles and some wild vegetation growing in the gaps of the sidewalk can be seen. This condition indicates an area that has recently undergone demolition and repair, with remnants of the old materials not yet fully cleared from the site. “(The hebel) has been replaced back with konblok. On Tuesday night, I requested it to be reverted,” said Ali when confirmed by Kompas.com on Wednesday. This replacement occurred after the unauthorised demolition of the sidewalk previously drew attention and scrutiny from the government. Based on earlier observations at the site, the sidewalk had been installed with hebel in an inconsistent manner, with some blocks placed lengthwise and others crosswise, resulting in an untidy and directionally varied pattern. The South Jakarta Road and Bridge Sub-Department requested that the work be stopped and the sidewalk returned to its original condition. The building management acknowledged the error. The government is now tightening permitting requirements for sidewalk demolitions to prevent arbitrary actions and protect pedestrians’ rights.