Karawang's transformation: The trilemma and mega transport-driven urbanism

Karawang, strategically situated between Jakarta and Bandung, illustrates the complex dynamics of peri-urban transformation in Indonesia. Historically, a key agricultural and industrial region, Karawang has increasingly evolved into a commuter and residential extension of Jakarta. However, unlike other peri-urban municipalities officially integrated into Jakarta's metropolitan governance, Karawang remains absent from strategic plans despite bearing greater environmental and developmental burdens. Recent Mega Transport Infrastructure Projects (MTIPs) have reduced travel time to mere minutes and are appealing as a prime residential destination for Jakarta's workforce, besides triggering uneven land development, speculative housing markets, and the marginalization of agricultural livelihoods. This study highlights the rise of exclusive residential enclaves near toll gates and increasing reliance on private vehicles, while many areas remain underserved by public transport. Adding to the lack of coordination between national and local planning, the transport-driven urban growth of Karawang overlooks issues of equity, sustainability, and identity. This study explores Karawang's historical evolution as the second-layer region inseparable from Jakarta, highlighting its organic yet precarious urban transformation triggered by the MTIP under the trilemma, offering a fresh perspective on Karawang urban transitions, illustrating how a once-marginalized city is reshaping identity in the face of relentless metropolitan expansion and infrastructural connectivity. • Identity Crisis - Trilemma : A trilemma between its roles as an agricultural region, industrial hub, and residential area for Jakarta's workforce, leading to spatial dissonance and inconsistencies. • Fragmented Governance : Unlike other peri-urban municipalities integrated into Jakarta's metropolitan governance, it lacks formal recognition and coordinated planning. • Enviro-Socio Impacts and Transportation Inequality : Rapid urbanization has led to land degradation and social inequities. Despite the interconnectedness of a larger region, local public transport and infrastructure options are insufficient. • Market-Driven Urban Growth : Its transformation is largely shaped by private investment and speculative property development. • Global South Perspective : Reflects broader urbanization challenges in emerging cities, offering insights into the dynamics of transport-driven urbanism. Most importantly, to see beyond the mainstream urban scholarship and beyond the spotlight of the capital city.