South Tangerang and the Challenge of Becoming a Modern, Sustainable City

South Tangerang is known as a city with very rapid development. The presence of various modern residential areas, business centres, shopping centres and educational institutions has made this city a destination for many people to work, do business or pursue education. According to the South Tangerang City Central Statistics Agency (BPS), population growth and economic activity continue to increase from year to year. This condition shows that South Tangerang has a strong appeal as a supporting city for Jakarta that continues to grow. This development certainly brings many benefits. The public gains better access to education, health services, public facilities and increasingly broad economic opportunities. However, the rapid pace of development also presents various challenges. One issue that still often concerns the public is waste management and environmental cleanliness. The more community activity there is, the greater the volume of waste generated each day. If not managed properly, this problem can impact environmental quality and public health. In addition, traffic density at certain hours remains a challenge felt by some residents. As a city that continues to grow, the need for adequate infrastructure and transportation is something that cannot be ignored. Sustainable city development does not depend solely on the government. The public also has an important role in maintaining the environment and supporting various development programmes. Some simple steps that can be taken include reducing the use of single-use plastics, sorting organic and inorganic waste from home, maintaining the cleanliness of public facilities, supporting waste bank programmes in the neighbourhood and using transportation wisely to reduce congestion. These simple habits can have a positive impact if carried out consistently by many people. As a city with many universities and educational institutions, South Tangerang has great potential to involve the younger generation in contributing to city development. According to the South Tangerang City Communication and Information Office, digital transformation continues to be carried out to improve the quality of public services. This shows that city development does not only focus on physical infrastructure, but also on improving the quality of services to the public. Through various social activities, environmental education, research and digital campaigns, the younger generation can be part of the solution to the various urban problems faced today. A developed city is not just a city with tall buildings and modern shopping centres. A good city is one that is able to provide a sense of safety, comfort, cleanliness and health for all its residents. South Tangerang has great potential to realise this. With collaboration between the government, the education sector, the private sector and the community, the various existing challenges can be overcome gradually. Sustainable development requires a collective awareness that every resident has a role in caring for the city where they live. South Tangerang has developed into one of the important cities in the Greater Jakarta area. The various advances that have been achieved deserve appreciation, but various challenges such as waste management, the density of urban activity and environmental quality also need serious attention. As city residents, we are not just witnesses to South Tangerang’s development, but also have a responsibility to help maintain and care for it. With the active participation of all elements of society, South Tangerang has a great opportunity to become a city that is not only modern, but also comfortable and sustainable for future generations.