With its completion on the horizon, this canal is poised to make history and usher in a new era of economic opportunities for its nation and the broader European region.
Europe is set to create its own version of the Suez Canal, as the ambitious project in Turkiye gains momentum. The Istanbul Canal initiative, spearheaded by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2021, aims to transform the city of Istanbul into a global trade hub, with an estimated cost of £20 billion.
The project faced initial resistance due to concerns about its impact on Istanbul’s ecosystem.
However, the Turkish government pressed forward with its vision for 2023 and 2053, highlighting the economic and commercial benefits the canal would bring to the nation.
The Istanbul Canal is strategically positioned in the western part of Istanbul, connecting the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. With a length of 45 km, a width ranging from 400 to 1000 metres, and a depth of up to 25 metres, the canal will feature six bridges connecting it to the European side of Istanbul.
It is projected to accommodate the passage of 160 ships or tankers annually, alleviating pressure on the heavily trafficked Bosphorus Strait.
President Erdogan, referring to the project as his “crazy project,” emphasised its significance in 2021.
He said: “Today we are opening a new page in the history of Turkiye’s development. We see Canal Istanbul as a project to save the future of Istanbul to ensure the safety of life and property of Istanbul’s Bosphorus and the citizens around it.”
Source: express