From trackside shacks to new homes, Jakarta families weigh what comes next
The Indonesian government is initiating a program to relocate families living in informal settlements along railway tracks in Jakarta to formal housing. While residents acknowledge the dangers of their current living situation, many have lived there for generations and are hesitant to move.
Why it matters
The project highlights the challenges of urban development and safety in densely populated cities where informal housing is common.
Indonesia wants to relocate families living beside railway tracks to newly built housing, starting with Jakarta before expanding the programme nationwide.
A commuter train passes homes built beside railway tracks in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Jul 13, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Ridhwan Siregar)
Kiki Siregar 09 Aug 2026 06:00AM (Updated: 09 Aug 2026 07:11AM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a new cards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST JAKARTA: For years, families living in shack houses beside active railway tracks in Central Jakarta’s Tanah Abang district timed their lives around passing trains.
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