From Trackside Shacks to Dignified Homes

THAT morning, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya walked along the railway edge in Pasar Senen with a different kind of urgency. Between the thunder of passing trains and tightly packed makeshift homes, he witnessed a reality many residents had endured for decades—living in cramped spaces, without proper access to clean water or sanitation.

“For years, people have lived just meters from the tracks, in conditions far from decent,” Teddy said, reflecting on what he saw. For some, it might look like just another image of urban poverty. For the government, it was a call to act.

That call came directly from President Prabowo Subianto. A month earlier, on 26 March 2026, the President made an unannounced visit to the same area—turning concern into momentum.

“Following the President’s directive, we cannot let this continue. There has to be a real solution,” Teddy emphasized.

Now, that solution is beginning to take shape. Just about 500 meters from the railway, a new housing complex is rising. Not just buildings—but a promise of dignity. The site will include clean water access, proper sanitation facilities, a place of worship, and even a playground for children.

Standing at the construction site alongside PT Kereta Api Indonesia KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin, Teddy ensured the progress stays on track. For him, speed is not just about meeting deadlines—it’s about delivering hope.

“This development is being accelerated through strong collaboration between the Ministry of Housing and state-owned enterprises. It’s a real presence of the state,” he said.

More than relocation, this project represents a shift in perspective—that every citizen deserves a safe, healthy, and dignified place to live, regardless of where they started.

Teddy knows Pasar Senen is only one of many areas facing similar challenges. But here, a bigger movement begins.

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“This effort won’t stop here. We will expand it gradually to other locations,” he stated firmly.

Behind the emerging structures lies something deeper—new hope. Hope for families to live without fear each time a train rushes by, for children to grow in safer spaces, and for communities to rebuild their lives with dignity.

“We are not just building houses,” Teddy said quietly, “we are building a better future.”

And there, between the fading echoes of passing trains and the rise of new homes, change begins to gently berembus—carrying a story of care, commitment, and a promise finally taking shape.