Sleman Regency Optimises Economic Impact of Toll Road Development
The Sleman Regency Government, Special Region of Yogyakarta, together with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is mapping the impacts of toll road construction while preparing concrete steps to optimise economic potential and mitigate social-environmental risks in the region.
The Head of the Sleman Regency Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), Nur Fitri Handayani, stated in Sleman on Monday that the construction of the Solo–Yogyakarta–YIA and Bawdeg–Yogyakarta toll road sections will alter spatial structures, mobility, and the socio-cultural conditions of the community. The toll road passing through the Sleman area is projected to span 43.71 kilometres of the total 95.57-kilometre Solo–YIA section.
“The toll road brings both benefits and risks. Anticipatory measures and impact management are required from an early stage through cross-sectoral policies so that the benefits support a progressive, just, prosperous, sustainable, and civil Sleman,” said Nur Fitri.
Based on the synthesis of data from Bappeda Sleman and BRIN policy briefs, the total population in the affected area reaches 655,571 people. The highest concentration of affected residents is located in the Depok (127,111 people), Ngaglik (104,340 people), Gamping (97,408 people), and Mlati (96,088 people) sub-districts. This infrastructure will also intersect 45 points of the regency’s road network and is estimated to potentially reduce the travel efficiency of local residents by up to 30 per cent on the existing road network.
“The project is targeted to be completed gradually, reaching full operation by 2028 and functional operation by 2030,” she said.
To anticipate these various impacts, BRIN and the Sleman Regency Government are developing a brief study covering 11 thematic areas. The resulting recommendations have been incorporated into the 2027 Sleman Regency Regional Government Work Plan (RKPD) regarding the Regional Economic and Financial Framework.
“The Sleman Regency Government is preparing several responsive strategies across regional agencies targeting the MSME, tourism, spatial planning, and cultural heritage protection sectors,” she said.
In the MSME and tourism sectors, the Regency Government will build a toll impact monitoring dashboard and integrate data into the ‘Satu Data UMKM’ platform. The government is also establishing MSME economic corridors around toll exits, with pilot projects at the Kalasan (East) and Gamping (West) exits, and integrating local products and industrial centres into tourism packages and the Sleman Mart digital platform.
Regarding land control, the Regency Government is preparing regulations in the form of Regent Regulations (Perbup) or studies on LP2B (protected agricultural land) incentives and disincentives, limiting permits for land-use changes around toll exits, and synchronising the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) and Detailed Spatial Plan (RDTR) post-construction.
Social and cultural protection measures include forming an integrated team for social conflict handling, assisting the financial management of residents receiving compensation, and strengthening local cultural protection through Regent Regulation Number 40 of 2019, funded by special regional funds. To preserve historical heritage, elevated construction is being prioritised at sites with scattered artefacts to minimise damage to the original soil, supported by a revision process of Regional Regulation Number 15 of 2015 concerning Cultural Heritage.
“Through the integration of research results into regional planning, the Sleman Regency Government is optimistic that the presence of the toll road can smooth distribution flows and drive economic growth without sacrificing environmental sustainability or local wisdom,” said Nur Fitri.