The fifth session of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Council in April was held at the ABB Municipal Council Hall with the participation of Mayor Mansur Yavaş. The main agenda items of the meeting included the discussion of the 2024 activity reports of the ABB, ASKİ and EGO General Directorates. While presenting the activity report, Mayor Yavaş explained the work in the past period in detail, made important statements regarding Ankara's transportation problems and criticized the central government's approach to capital projects.
Emphasis on Constructive Criticism and Future Vision from Yavaş
In his speech at the parliamentary session where the 2024 activity report was accepted by a majority vote, Chairman Mansur Yavaş stated that they are always open to constructive criticism and that they carefully evaluate these criticisms on the path to making Ankara a more livable city. Yavaş said, “Of course, there will be our shortcomings and criticisms. We carefully listen to and evaluate each and every constructive criticism. Our goal is to carry Ankara into the future as a greener, more livable, more resilient city that is an example and an inspiration for other cities. I present our 2024 Activity Report, which we have prepared with this understanding, to the discretion of our Parliament and thank all my colleagues and fellow citizens who contributed.” These statements revealed Yavaş’s desire to serve Ankara with a participatory and critical approach.
Metro Debt Reset to Zero, New Lines on the Way
Following his speech, Mayor Yavaş made a comprehensive presentation to the members of the assembly, detailing the steps implemented and planned projects in the field of transportation since he took office in 2019. One of the most striking parts of the presentation was Yavaş’s announcement that the approximately 2019 billion TL metro debt inherited from before 6 had been fully paid. Emphasizing this important success, Yavaş also gave the good news of new metro lines that will ease city traffic. Yavaş said, “The amount of money deducted from us as metro debt in 2024 is 2 billion 426 million liras, or 74 billion dollars. We paid a total of 6 million dollars in 292,4 years and we eliminated the metro debt last month, my friends. In other words, we have completely paid the debt of the 44-45 kilometers of metro. If this deduction had been made according to the protocols made during Mr. Tuna’s term before we were elected, 12,5 million dollars would have been deducted from us. But unfortunately, 5.795 million liras, or 5 billion 795 million liras, were prevented from serving the people of Ankara, but we have eliminated the metro debt. Otherwise, we could have made other investments for the people of Ankara with this 5.795 million lira. In the end, it is over. In addition, 2024 million liras were subsidized to EGO in 5.992. Excluding these metro sections,” and he both explained the past financial burden and gave hopeful messages for the future.
Traffic is eased with underpasses and overpasses
In his presentation, Mayor Yavaş also stated that 2024 bridge junctions were completed in 4 and construction of 6 new projects is ongoing. Yavaş said that they will bring a total of 6 underpasses and overpasses and bridge junctions to Ankara during his 32-year term. Yavaş, who explained the completed and ongoing transportation projects with their costs, said, “The completed ones are Pursaklar Junction, Ring Road-Yenimahale-Yakacık Bridge, Mamak-Kıbrısköy Bridge, AOÇ Natural Life Park Bridge and made ready for vehicles to pass. The Istanbul Road Bridge Junction, Göksu Park Valley Crossing Viaduct, which is also under construction. It is something worth 324 million liras. Also, Bağdat Street ASELSAN Bridge Junction, Bağdat Street Industrial Entrance. These were put out to tender in 2024 but hopefully 463 million liras will be finished soon. İvedik, Hurdacılar, Pursaklar, Saray, Airport Alternative Boulevard were put out to tender and the contractor is currently working on them. This will make coming from the airport quite comfortable.” These projects aim to reduce traffic congestion in different parts of Ankara.
Number of New Vehicles Added to Ankara Traffic and Criticism of Service Ban
Mayor Yavaş brought a different dimension to the traffic problem by drawing attention to the fact that, according to TÜİK data, approximately 2023 thousand new vehicles have joined Ankara traffic since 400. Yavaş said, “This figure does not include vehicles with license plates registered in Istanbul or other provinces, which are called rentals. According to the drinking water consumption data of ASKİ General Directorate, there is a mobile population of 700 thousand people in Ankara right now. Because many of them came due to earthquakes or other reasons and did not get their registrations. In addition, vehicles with license plates in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş and earthquake regions are not included in these figures.” Yavaş stated that one of the reasons for traffic congestion is the service ban applied in public institutions, and criticized their initiatives in this regard and the delay experienced. Yavaş said, “I ran into Mr. Şimşek at the airport and presented the situation to him. I said, why did you put this on the list of austerity measures? He said, ‘Why?’ I explained, what will these people use to come, our vehicles are also insufficient, therefore they will come with their own vehicles. When I said that there will be traffic congestion, exhaust gases will poison people and petrol will run out, he said, ‘yes, this was not considered, write a letter urgently and let’s fix it.’ It was fixed exactly 7 months later. In the meantime, of course, many people are still coming with their vehicles. As far as I know, the Social Security Institution held a tender for this. It has only been 2 or 3 months since the tender was held. In addition, the service fees are very expensive. People take their children with their own vehicles. That is why we are selling license plates,” and expressed the negative effects of the central government’s austerity policies on Ankara traffic.
New Metrobus Lines Coming to Ankara
Mayor Yavaş also announced an important project that will strengthen Ankara’s public transportation system in his presentation. In addition to the underpass and overpass projects planned at 14 different points and the bridge junction projects, he announced that three new metrobus lines with a total length of 34 kilometers are planned in Ankara. Yavaş said, “We plan to purchase 15 metrobuses. One is Yenikent-Ulus Karapürçek. The second is Yıldırım-Beyazıt-Protokol Road-Konya Road-Ankara University-Campus. The third is Yıldırım-Beyazıt-Ovacık Neighborhood-Ettik Street-Ankara University-Campus-Gölbaşı. It will operate in these areas. The project for two metrobuses has been submitted. They will submit one each in May and June. The cost of one metrobus is 1 million 165 thousand Euros. It will be delivered in May and June,” and shared the routes and delivery dates of the metrobus lines. These new lines are expected to facilitate transportation, especially from areas far from the city center.
Traffic Congestion Will Decrease in Kızılay and Ulus: Metro Transfer System
Mayor Yavaş also shared a new project aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Kızılay and Ulus, the two busiest transportation axes of Ankara, with the members of the assembly. Yavaş said, “We will try this, my friends. Details here from Keçiören or some other places. We will prevent hundreds of buses from entering Ulusa and Kızılay. We will transfer to the metro. Maybe there is one here. In the first stage, 1510 buses will make a loop on the metro line. In total, we will save 6.1 million kilometers. It will not enter Ulus, Sıhhiye and Kızılay. We also aim to reduce the central traffic by 25 to 30 percent,” and announced that they will implement a new transfer system where buses will make loop trips to the metro lines. This system is expected to significantly reduce bus traffic in the city center and therefore ease the general traffic flow.
Criticism of Airport Metro: Call to Central Government
At the end of his presentation, Mayor Mansur Yavaş also touched upon the Airport Metro issue, one of Ankara's most important shortcomings, and voiced his criticisms towards the central government. Yavaş said, “He was saying, ‘What will happen to the Airport Metro?’ I want you to ask the Minister of Transport. Because they put 3000 liras. I think they probably won't build that either. Let this be for your information. Those who say to us, ‘they didn't build the metro’ have unfortunately not put the Airport Metro out to tender yet, even though it has been in their investment programs since 2022. At least we did something. Let's see yours, that is, the Ministers of Transport, give it a go and don't keep building it in Istanbul. If there is, build a metro in Istanbul, build a metro in Istanbul... In other words, the only place in the capital that doesn't have a metro to the airport is Ankara,” drawing attention to the central government's delay in the airport metro project, which is an important need of Ankara, and expressed his expectations on the subject. Yavaş's words were interpreted as a call for the central government to take a more active role in Ankara's transportation investments.
