The Turkish Prime Minister presented the Canal Istanbul plans for Istanbul, which has been called as a “crazy project” by some skeptics. Photo via http://www.kanalistanbulprojesi.gen.tr/.

Following national elections on June 12, Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented the cabinet of the 61st government. Mr. Binali Yıldırım was appointed Minister of Transport for a third term—a record in Turkish political history.

The national government also created a new Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, led by newly appointed Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar. Previously, Turkey only had a Ministry of Environment and Forests.

"This new branch of urban planning is now working together with the environmental sector, which is a very solid development," said EMBARQ Turkiye Communications Coordinator Ozen LeCompte.

The third important development was the creation of an Accessibility Strategy and National Action Plan for improving accessibility of all transport services for elderly and people with disabilities.

Access to education, health, and social and public services are still critical issues in the country, especially for people with disabilities, despite existing legislation. The National Action Plan aims to improve accessibility of transport and mobility in line with European Union laws.

2023 targets for transport

The governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) has set transport targets for 2023 as follows:

• Build a safe, fast, environmentally friendly and economically sustainable transport system throughout Turkey.
• Balance all modes of transport and prioritize projects that will support this.
• From east to west and north to south, make Turkey a logistical base with ports, free trade zones, logistics centers and all modes of transport. At least 16 points will be large-scale logistics centers.
• Transport infrastructure (motorways, airways, seaways) will be controlled with modern information technologies and security.
• Transport master plans will be integrated into city-level transport master plans.
• Commercial vehicle drivers will be trained to increase their capacity and awareness.

Istanbul is the focus

Before the elections, Turkish Prime Minister presented the Canal Istanbul plans for Istanbul, which has been called a “crazy project” by some skeptics.

The Canal Istanbul project aims to create two cities divided by a canal. However, a lot of discussion and debate is going on around this and other proposed infrastructure projects, including the Eurasian undersea car tunnel and so-called "Third Bridge."

Opponents claim they are not environmentally friendly projects and experts report that they are not a solution to reduce traffic congestion in Istanbul.

The Chamber of Engineers and Architects, Chamber of Civil Engineers, urban planners, many NGOs and environmental organizations have already opposed these projects, and environmental impact reports have been prepared to stop them.

So the question is: Will Istanbul’s traffic problem be relieved by a third bridge, undersea car tunnel and canal, or it will become much worse than it already is?