Despite the expiration of the tender period, a contract extension was made to the company that provides transportation between Ankara center and Esenboğa Airport, without a tender. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, which purchases new vehicles with large luggage volume and provides public service by carrying passengers at a cheaper price than this company, was not allowed to store its vehicles. CHP Deputy Chairman Ulaş Karasu, who brought the issue to the agenda, claimed that those who were punished were citizens of Ankara and invited the Minister of Transport to reverse the decision.
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality EGO General Directorate buses started to serve on the airport line. However, although the Metropolitan Municipality wrote to the Esenboğa Airport Chief Directorate many times regarding the allocation of space for bus storage-waiting areas within the Airport, no positive response was received.
During this period, Belko-Air continued to operate under its new name, Ankara Air. The contract of this company was extended by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure until 31.12.2024 and the allocation of waiting-storage areas continued.
It was brought to the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly that this company, which provides transportation for 80 TL, should be given a contract extension without a tender, even though its contract has expired. CHP Deputy Chairman and Sivas Deputy Ulaş Karasu said, “It is extremely striking that this area is not allocated to EGO buses, which provide transportation for the benefit of citizens for a fee of 50 TL. "As can be understood, it is not the Metropolitan Municipality that is punished, but the people themselves," he said. Karasu stated that although the EGO General Directorate, under the chairmanship of Mansur Yavaş, purchased 15 new buses with large luggage volumes for comfortable transportation on the line, 6 of these vehicles could operate actively because space was not allocated, and pointed out that this would cause public damage.
“IS THIS DECISION A POLITICAL DECISION?”
Stating that the Ministry's Esenboğa Airport Chief Directorate should accelerate the space allocation process in favor of the citizens and that this decision should be reversed, Karasu submitted a parliamentary question requesting that Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu answer. Karasu said, "What is the legal reason why no positive response has been given despite the fact that many letters have been written regarding the allocation of bus storage-waiting areas within the Airport?" Karasu asked, and asked for the legal reason for extending the contract to the company without a tender to be explained. “Is this decision political?” Karasu asked, “Is there any administrative action taken by your ministry against the managers of the Chief Directorate who made this decision? Will it happen? Will the decision be reversed? "If there is no return, will your ministry take action in favor of the citizens?" he asked.
Karasu also requested an explanation of the amount of public damage caused and whether any action will be taken against those responsible for the damage.
