Istanbul canal reviews to be presented to PM Erdogan
Transport Minister Yildirim says the construction process will begin after their final report on Canal Istanbul is presented to PM Erdogan.
ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Binali Yildirim has said "Istanbul Canal" project will be presented to Prime Minister R.Tayyip Erdogan before the process of construction actually starts.
Visiting Anadolu Agency (AA) Editor's Desk on Wednesday, Yildirim said that his ministry has been preparing the construction side of the Canal Istanbul and the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization has been carrying out environmental planning.
Yildirim stressed that the two ministries were about to complete their works adding, "After we have presented the final situation to PM Erdogan (over the project), we will initiate the procedure of construction."
International aspect
Yildirim said they have reviewed the opinions on the "Canal Istanbul" project whether it contradicts with Montreux Convention or Treaty of Lausanne, adding, "This issue is related with sovereignty rights of Turkey, and the project doesn't conflict with the Montreux Convention."
Those international treaties are the basis of international use of Turkey's straits. Canal Istanbul is expected to be an alternative route to Black Sea from Mediterrenean.
The project "Canal Istanbul", a new waterway for Istanbul, to link the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea which aims at reducing maritime traffic at Istanbul Strait, or Bosphorus, was announced by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 11. The canal will be built in the west of Istanbul.
Montreux Convention(1936) is an agreement concerning the Dardanelles and Bosphorus. In response to Turkey’s request to refortify the area, the signers of the Treaty of Lausanne and others met in Montreux, Switzerland, and agreed to return the zone to Turkish military control. The convention allowed Turkey to close the straits to all warships when it was at war and to permit merchant ships free passage.
Turkish transportation, maritime affairs and communications minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday that the construction of Istanbul's third airport may begin in the next few months.
Yildirim told Anadolu Agency that the construction would start after ministry will approve the entire plan.
Answering a question about Istanbul would be a rival to global hub Frankfurt, minister replied Germany was among the bidders for Istanbul project and Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa would benefit should they cooperate rather than compete.
Finishing the construction of 3rd Bosphorus bridge to be a world record
Yildirim said that the construction work of 3rd Bosphorus bridge has been in full flow, and stressed that their purpose was to complete the construction of 3rd Bosphorus bridge and its highways in 2015.
"Istanbul's 3rd bridge project will be completed in 2015, which will be a world record," said Yildirim.
The third Bosphorus bridge and 90 kilometers of link roads will be contracted out by a build-operate-transfer model while the remaining 314 kilometers would be built by public funds. The third bridge at the Istanbul Strait will be 1,275 meters long.
Marmaray project to be opened on October 29
Yildirim said that there was no delay or failure for the opening of Marmaray project, and the Marmaray would be opened on October 29.
"We will realize the 1.5 centenary dream, which is the most important rail project of Istanbul, in the 90th foundation anniversary of our Republic" said Yildirim.
The final preparations for the opening of the project, which consists of the construction of an undersea rail tunnel under the Bosphorus strait combining ground railways on both sides, are being undertaken.
The 13.5 kilometers long Marmaray line which connects to the Istanbul-Ankara high speed train and Istanbul metro line (underground railway system) is expected to decrease Istanbul's traffic jams.
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