Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu said, “We started to project a 276-kilometer highway starting from Ankara and going to Akyazi via Ayas, Beypazari, Nallihan.”
Uraloglu gave information to the AA correspondent about local and national projects and works on transportation lines.
Emphasizing that their priority is to use domestic and national technology in communication by air, land, railway and sea, Uraloglu said, “We focus on works to make railway vehicles domestic and national. Projects such as the National Metro Project, locomotive production and the national electric train set added value to the country. The technologies used in smart transportation routes are also produced in Turkiye.”
Uraloglu pointed out that they increased the number of airports from 26 to 57 in 2002 and said:
“Our number of airports has more or less reached the point of meeting the need in Turkiye. The construction of Yozgat, Bayburt-Gumushane and Cukurova regional airports continues. Cukurova Regional Airport is about to be completed. We are working 24/7 to open it within this month. We started the construction of the third runway of Sabiha Gokcen Airport and a new terminal building at Antalya Airport. We carried out studies on Hatay Airport, which was damaged in the earthquake. After conducting site surveys in Hatay and surrounding provinces, we decided to build Hatay Airport on its own site and started its construction. We will put it into service. We will probably finish it within next year.”
“11% of mobile phones used in Turkiye are compatible with 5G”
Uraloglu stated that the work on the transition to 5G continues with domestic resources and said, “Currently, only 11% of the mobile phones used in Turkiye are compatible with 5G. So we need to manage this process correctly. We will bring this to our country when Turkiye needs it.”
Providing information about the preparations for the launch of the Turksat 6A satellite, Uraloglu stated that the site delivery will be made in March. Uraloglu said that the satellite will be sent into orbit in June.
Stating that the Turksat 6A satellite will cover additional areas in Africa and the Middle East, Uraloglu said, “We sell this product to operators and broadcasters in the countries it covers. There is a financial expectation from there. Also, these are strategic products. So, when you sell such a product to a country, you also improve your relations politically. You can also encourage watching Turkish channels.”
Turkiye Card can be used in 10 more provinces
Emphasizing that they take “zero emission” sensitivity into consideration in the projects carried out, Uraloglu explained that they are working to transfer road transportation to railways. Uraloglu stated that they encourage the construction of electric vehicles and charging stations in this context.
Reminding that the Turkiye Card Project, which was implemented through PTT, was first implemented in Konya, Uraloglu stated that the card could be used in at least 10 more provinces this year.
A new highway is being projected on the Istanbul-Ankara line
Pointing out that vehicle traffic tends to increase between Istanbul and Ankara, Uraloglu gave the following information about the work carried out on this line:
“We definitely need a new highway between Istanbul and Ankara for the coming years. We also need a shorter train line. We have started to project a 276-kilometer highway starting from Ankara and going to Akyazi via Ayas, Beypazari, Nallihan. When we finish this, we will travel on a shorter route and our capacity will increase. We prioritize the railway a little more. We have another project for him. We started working on this project. I think we will start construction for both the highway and the railway in the 2028 projection. We started as a project, but we have a little more time as a production.”
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz