Residents Claim To Be Willing To Be Relocated To Rusunawa After Dozens Of Years Of Living Under Toll Roads

Residents walked in Bedeng which was built under the Tiga Bridge Toll Road, Pejagalan, Penjaringan District, North Jakarta. (ANTARA/Mario Sofia Nasution)

JAKARTA - After decades of living in the bedeng house they built under the Tiga Pejagalan Toll Road, Penjaringan District, North Jakarta. A number of these residents admitted that they were willing to be relocated to Rusunawa Tongkol, Pademangan.

"I have lived here since 1993 until I have five children and five grandchildren here," said Wasto, one of the residents under the toll road during the relocation from his residence so far in Jakarta, Sunday, as quoted by Antara.

He said that it used to be a village at that location. He took part in working on the land and then there was a eviction of the toll road and the residents here moved.

"After the construction is complete and some residents can be occupied back here," he said.

He used to come to the location and build a place to live by buying used plywood that was arranged so that it could be occupied.

"My children were born here all of them, now three children are married and two children are still not married. They all live here," said the resident who claimed to be from Brebes, Central Java, that.

According to him, for electricity needs, there are residents who distribute and they pay Rp. 20,000 per month. As for water needs, there are those who build their own wells and there are also residents who buy through cart water.

"All residents here from various regions, there are Brebes, Indramayu, Solo and others. Some of them have Jakarta ID cards," he said.

He admitted that he was happy with the government program that relocated himself and the residents to the flats. He also admitted that he could find a location in flats that had one room and other married children.

"So far, he said there is no cost but later there will be monthly costs. Later we will also think about it," he said.

Another resident named Siti Aminah admitted that he had lived under this toll road since 2002. He admitted that he initially rented a house and sold it. When he had money he bought materials for housing such as wood and plywood.

"There are millions of money purchased for housing here and has lived here for almost 20 years," he said.

He admitted that he was willing to be transferred to the flats so that he could get better housing. "I'm here selling and later I can sell there to pay rent," he said.

Previously, Pejagalan Village Head, Penjaringan District, North Jakarta, Tommy Haryanto said, there were 500 families (KK) who had Jakarta ID cards under the Jembatan Tiga toll road.

"They have been gradually relocated to the flats that have been prepared by the government. Those who can enter the flats of course have a DKI Jakarta ID card," he said.

He said this transfer was carried out in stages and today 34 families were relocated. "Tomorrow we will relocation again and the data is already there," he said.