Railway firm to demolish 800 illegal buildings in Jakarta

State railway company PT KAI says it will demolish about 800 illegal buildings along railway lines in Jakarta starting next month.

 Company spokesman Mateta Rizalulhaq said Monday that the illegal buildings disrupted the train signal system, kompas.com reported.

Demolitions are scheduled to start on March 1, beginning with those located between Jayakarta Station and Sawah Besar Station.

 Mateta said the decision to demolish shanties was also prompted by a fire that raged through illegal buildings near Jayakarta Station, which also destroyed optic fibers belonging to the railway.

He said the squatters would receive no compensation because the buildings were located on land belonging to the company.

Earlier on Monday, about 30 squatters living along the railway near Jayakarta Station demonstrated in front of City Hall to demand a delay of the demolition and compensation from the company.