Government to Break Ground on 141,000 Subsidized Flats at Meikarta on March 8

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Housing and Settlements Minister Maruarar Sirait said the government will break ground on Saturday, March 8, 2026 in Bekasi for 141,000 subsidized apartment units equal to 54 towers at Meikarta to accelerate vertical housing supply for low-income households and create a model for replication in other cities.

The large-scale project is designed as a pilot for mass subsidized flats, as urban land constraints push policymakers to shift from landed housing to high-rise solutions.

“We will build one large project first and make it successful so it can be duplicated. Indonesia needs examples, then others will follow,” Maruarar said at his office in Central Jakarta on Friday, Feb 20, 2026.

He described the Meikarta development as a potential turning point for subsidized vertical housing, expressing hope that the groundbreaking would proceed smoothly.

“Pray that the groundbreaking goes well. If everything runs smoothly, there will be major changes in massive subsidized flats,” he added.

The project will be developed across three adjacent plots of about 10 hectares each on land in Meikarta, Bekasi Regency, West Java.

Developer PT Lippo Cikarang Tbk plans to offer three unit types, ranging from one-bedroom units sized 25 and 27 square meters, two-bedroom units sized 35 and 37 square meters, to three-bedroom units sized 45 square meters.

In total, the development will produce 141,000 subsidized apartments equivalent to 54 towers, with estimated investment reaching Rp 39 trillion, equal to about $2.4 billion, excluding land value.

The project moved forward after Lippo Group donated 30 hectares of land in the Meikarta area to support the government’s housing program.

“We carried out land clearing two weeks ago. Mr. James donated 30 hectares. We will build three nearby sites of 10 hectares each, that is the plan,” Maruarar said, referring to Lippo Group Chairman James Riady.

Officials said the vertical housing concept would not be limited to Bekasi, with similar projects being considered in other urban areas such as Lampung Province.

“Especially in urban areas, we must move in that direction. We will look for capable developers,” Lampung Governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal said.

The Meikarta plan underscores the government’s push to address Indonesia’s housing backlog through scale, land contributions and public-private coordination, betting that a flagship project can reshape perceptions of subsidized high-rise living.