Communication Strategy and Community Participation in the Jogja–Solo Toll Road Project in Sleman Regency

Abstract

The construction of the Jogja–Solo toll road is one of Indonesia’s national strategic projects aimed at improving regional connectivity and accelerating economic growth. The project crosses several regions, including Sleman Regency in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, which is characterized by a dense population and strong socio-cultural structures. This study analyzes development communication strategies and forms of community participation in the implementation of the Jogja–Solo toll road project in Sleman. A qualitative descriptive method was applied through document studies, field observations, and

interviews with community leaders and local government officials. The findings reveal that development communication was conducted through formal socialization, face-to-face meetings, public consultations, local media, and engagement with community leaders. Community participation emerged in various forms, such as consultation meetings, village deliberations, involvement in land acquisition, and expressing aspirations related to social and environmental impacts. Several challenges were identified, including uneven access to information, limited two-way dialogue in the early stages, and differing levels of technical understanding. The study concludes that transparent, participatory, and context-sensitive communication is essential to ensure the project’s social acceptance and sustainability.