The Metropolitan Municipality, which attaches great importance to urban transformation in order to reduce the earthquake risk in Bursa and make the city more resilient, has started the urban transformation project in the Arabayatağı Neighborhood of the Yıldırım district. Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, who said that urban transformation in Bursa, where there are 9 fault lines, is no longer a choice but a necessity, said, “We want our people to live in a good and beautiful environment. We have been working intensively for a year to realize this dream.”
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality has accelerated urban transformation projects in order to make Bursa, which is located in the first-degree earthquake zone, a safer city against earthquakes. Aiming to replace worn-out structures with earthquake-resistant residences so that Bursa residents can live in safe areas, the Metropolitan Municipality launched the Arabayatağı-Ulus Urban Transformation Project with a groundbreaking ceremony. 4 residences and 423 shops will be built on a total construction area of 17 square meters, 700 square meters of which is a reserve area belonging to the Metropolitan Municipality.
“Urban transformation is an urgent step that needs to be taken”
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey said that they were happy to sign a new beginning in Arabayatağı Neighborhood. Stating that the laid foundation will be the guarantee of a safe life in Bursa and will be implemented as one of the exemplary projects, Mayor Mustafa Bozbey expressed that Bursa has been a rapidly growing and developing city from past to present. Reminding that growth brings with it unplanned construction and earthquake risk, Mayor Mustafa Bozbey said, “We know that 9 out of 7 faults in Bursa are active and areas with liquefaction potential carry great risk. We cannot ignore this fact. For this very reason, urban transformation is no longer a choice, but a necessity. This is no longer a choice, it is a right to life. We have to minimize earthquake risk and make our city more resilient. Therefore, urban transformation is an urgent step that must be taken for the safety of all of us. We are aware of this fact. As Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, we attach importance to accelerating urban transformation in the region with the steps we will take together with Yıldırım Municipality. We will achieve this. In this sense, I would also like to thank Yıldırım Municipality.”
“We prevented a large amount of money from being spent on the municipality’s coffers.”
Mayor Bozbey said that Arabayatağı Neighborhood has been in this waiting for a long time and explained that the process could not progress due to the high cost of the tender in the region, which was declared a risky area in 2012. Stating that they determined that the process could not continue in this way after taking office and started a transformation process that could be implemented by re-projecting the region, Mayor Bozbey said, “The tender was held on March 19, 2024. When we look at the tender, there was a cost exceeding 550 million. There are 112 apartments and 8 shops here. When we calculate approximately, we see that the cost of 1 apartment comes to an average of 4-4.5 million TL. Our municipality has prevented a very important loss here. I am also a civil engineer. I know about construction. Some changes were made to the project. By giving this structure, the foundation of which we laid, in return for floors, we at least prevented a large amount from coming out of the municipality's coffers. I also thank our contractor friends and wish them success. I congratulate them for preparing this project in an environment where the economy has gone down so much. Hopefully, they will deliver it within 650 days as they promised us.”
“We have determined the urban transformation areas”
Reminding that they are in a region with high liquefaction potential, Mayor Bozbey reminded that 620 thousand of the 128 thousand buildings in Bursa will be damaged in a magnitude 7 earthquake, and it is assumed that around 28 thousand buildings will collapse. Stating that they have to accelerate urban transformation works by acting jointly with all municipalities, Mayor Bozbey said, “As a result of the works, we have determined the urban transformation areas. With urban transformation, the opening of main roads and alternative roads is also in question. A 30-meter road will pass through this region. We are also planning a 60-meter road. We anticipate that the quality of life will increase when we provide an alternative road to Ankara Road. We want our people to live in a good and beautiful environment, to be able to go from one place to another safely, and to meet their urban needs in that region. We have been working intensively for a year to realize this dream. We set out by determining our priorities. We are working day and night to make the people of the region smile. May it bring good luck.”
CHP Yıldırım District Chairman İlhami Gün reminded that Yıldırım is the smallest district of Bursa in terms of surface area but the second largest in terms of population density. Gün, who stated that there is a lot of irregular construction and old buildings, expressed that urban transformation is essential in Yıldırım. Gün, who also stated that the earthquake reality should not be forgotten, expressed that the work carried out by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality is important for the future of Yıldırım. Gün thanked Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey for the project and wished that urban transformation would be beneficial.
Arabayatağı Neighborhood Headman Celal Depe thanked Mayor Mustafa Bozbey for the urban transformation project and wished it good luck.
Following the speeches, the first mortar of the Arabayatağı-Ulus Urban Transformation Project was poured in a ceremony by Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and his entourage.
