UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta has continued its public consultation on the planned construction of a pedestrian access bridge connecting the parking area north of the Student Center with the area housing the Faculty of Da'wah and the Faculty of Ushuluddin. This follow-up consultation involved local government authorities and a number of stakeholders around the campus, as part of both the licensing process and the university's broader effort to strengthen information disclosure to the public.

The activity was attended by representatives from Depok Sub-district (Kapanewon Depok), Caturtunggal Village (Kalurahan Caturtunggal), hamlet and neighborhood (dukuh and RW) leaders from around the campus, farmers who rely on water from the Ngebrug Irrigation Canal, and the Public Works and Water Resources Agency (Dinas PU-PSDA). These various parties were brought in to ensure the construction plan is understood by the stakeholders directly connected to the project site.

The planned pedestrian bridge is part of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta's broader effort to organize campus access and facilities. Once built, the bridge will connect the parking area being developed north of the Student Center with the Faculty of Da'wah and the Faculty of Ushuluddin, making it easier for students to reach that part of campus.

According to the relevant Department Head at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, speaking after the activity, the plan for this facility grew out of the persistently crowded parking conditions on the east side of the Faculty of Da'wah and the Faculty of Ushuluddin. The university has since prepared an alternative parking area north of the Student Center, which will be equipped with a pedestrian bridge for access.

The bridge is planned to span above the Ngebrug Irrigation Canal. For that reason, construction is still pending the fulfillment of various requirements and permits from the relevant agencies.

This round of consultation is the second of its kind. UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta previously held a consultation with relevant stakeholders, but not all local authorities were able to attend. This follow-up session was held to give a more complete picture to interested parties before construction begins.

Head of the Bureau of General Administration and Finance (AUK), Dr. Ali Sodiq, emphasized that communicating with local authorities is an important part of both the construction process and fulfilling licensing requirements.

“This is part of the process and the licensing requirements we need to complete. We're informing everyone involved so that, when construction activity does begin, it doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. This is part of information disclosure,” he explained.

This kind of information disclosure is part of UIN Sunan Kalijaga's broader effort to build good communication with the community around campus. By holding consultations as early as the planning stage, local government, residents, and other interested parties around the Ngebrug Irrigation Canal can stay informed about the construction plan and the stages ahead.

Construction of the bridge, meanwhile, will not begin until the licensing process with the relevant agencies is complete. Once the permits are issued and all requirements are met, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta will proceed to the construction phase.

Through this access project, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta hopes that organizing its parking facilities can go hand in hand with improving the ease of movement for students. The bridge is expected to provide a more convenient pedestrian route from the north parking area to the Faculty of Da'wah and the Faculty of Ushuluddin, while continuing to take into account environmental concerns and the interests of those who rely on the Ngebrug Irrigation Canal. (humassk)