Ankara Metropolitan Municipality has started another giant project that will ease city transportation. ABB, which has completely paid off the 6 billion TL metro debt inherited from previous periods, laid the foundation of the Mamak Metro, which will be 7,46 kilometers long and consist of 8 stations.
ABB President Mansur Yavaş said, “We are working day and night to ensure fair, accessible and modern circulation, which is the right of everyone living in this city. This line, whose foundation we will lay today, is a step taken, like every other step, not only by considering today but also the future of Ankara.”
Yavaş, who stated that there was not a single approved metro project included in the investment program in Ankara when he took office in 2019, responded to the criticism that they did not build a metro by saying, “They criticize us for not building a metro, but we have paid a metro debt of exactly 6 billion liras since we took office. We do not currently have any metro debt. Now I ask, who built those metros?”
Drawing attention to the unplanned construction in the city, Yavaş shared an image from the Yaşamkent-İncek region and said, "When other multi-storey buildings are built, neither the infrastructure nor the roads will be sufficient for them."
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) continues to strengthen the transportation infrastructure of the city with the giant projects it has implemented.
Having eliminated a significant financial burden by canceling out its metro debt of approximately 6 billion TL, ABB has now laid the foundation of the new 8-kilometer Mamak Metro, which will consist of 7,46 stations. The Dikimevi-Natoyolu Rail System Extension Line Groundbreaking Ceremony, which was attended by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, was attended by DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan, Republican People's Party (CHP) Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın, CHP Ankara Provincial Chairman Ümit Erkol, deputies, district mayors, political party representatives, civil society organization representatives, muhtars and many citizens.
“MAMAK’S FATE IS CHANGING, COMFORT IS COMING TO MAMAK”
ABB President Mansur Yavaş started his speech by commemorating Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, who passed away recently, and said, “Unfortunately, we have lost a very valuable companion in Manisa, our Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mr. Ferdi Zeyrek, in a painful way. We are very sorry.”
Yavaş, who stated that the new line, which will be completely underground and will be 7,46 kilometers long, will consist of 8 stations, namely Abidinpaşa, Âşık Veysel, Tuzluçayır, General Zeki Doğan, Fahri Korutürk, Cengizhan, Akşemsettin and Natoyolu, said, “We came together to lay the foundation of an important investment that will make a great contribution to the transportation infrastructure of our capital. We are building a brand new line for our neighborhoods that have been waiting to be included in the metro network for years on the eastern axis of Ankara. When this route is completed, the travel of approximately 300 thousand passengers per day will be easier. In other words, this is not only a metro line, but also a great relief for regional transportation. Of course, Mamak's fate is changing once again. Comfort is coming to Mamak. Hopefully, much more investment will come thanks to the ease of transportation. Like its neighbor Çankaya, almost every part of it will gain value.”
“NOW I ASK, WHO BUILT THOSE SUBWAYS?”
Yavaş also touched upon the tender process of the line and explained the steps they took to protect public resources. Reminding that the first tender was cancelled due to a high bid, Yavaş stated that 6,7 billion TL was saved with the renewed tender.
Yavaş stated that they have completely paid off the 6 billion TL metro debt from the previous period and responded to the criticism that they did not build the metro as follows:
“They criticize us for not building the metro, but since we came to power, we have paid a total of 6 billion liras in metro debt. This corresponds to a 45-kilometer-long metro line. They made us pay for all of the Çayyolu, Batıkent and Keçiören metros that were built before us. With a decision taken 2019 days after the 20 elections, they suddenly eliminated 15 percent of the metro’s ticket revenue and started cutting 5 percent of the municipality’s monthly revenue, which is our share of the budget from the Iller Bank. Because of this difference, we were supposed to pay only 246 million liras in five years, but a total of 6 billion liras were cut from us. Now I ask, who built those metros?”
Yavaş emphasized that when they took office, they realized that Ankara's rail system investments had been neglected for years, and stated that in the previous period, resources were spent on underpasses and overpasses and projects such as Ankapark instead of the metro. Yavaş said the following:
“As you know, the projects of Ankaray and Kızılay-Batıkent Metro were made during the period of Mr. Murat Karayalçın, the financing was found and the construction work was started. Without a penny from the municipality, it continued until 1997 with the project he provided and was completed. This is Mr. Murat Karayalçın’s success. There has been no metro completed since then. Because he does not believe in any other type of transportation. He tried to solve Ankara’s traffic with underpasses and overpasses in his own mind. While the whole world is solving this in this way, we have unfortunately never entered into metro investment until now, thinking that it is expensive and no one will enter.”
Yavaş, who also made statements about the Airport Metro, said, "Unfortunately, they continue to grant us the honor of being a city among the developed countries in the world that does not have a metro from the airport to the city center."
“IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU COULD NOT SOLVE THE CITY’S TRAFFIC, YOU HAVE ALSO DARKENED ITS FUTURE”
Yavaş also drew attention to the unplanned infrastructure investments made in the past and said, “We wanted a route to be determined in order to build a new metro line. Surveys and feasibility studies had to be conducted. However, this process was more difficult than we expected. Because between 1994 and 2008, a total of 169 bridges, tunnels and interchanges were built throughout Ankara. We attempted to build a light rail system, that is, a tram system that does not go underground. No project can be done due to today’s underpasses and the narrowness at their edges. In other words, you have not only failed to solve the city’s traffic with underpasses, but you have also darkened the city’s future. The money spent on these underpasses is close to 1,5 million Euros in today’s figures. In other words, metros could have been built in 4-5 places.”
Yavaş, who stated that they also built underpasses and overpasses and bridge junctions, continued as follows:
“We did it too, but not within the city, on the contrary, at the city exits, for example, 3 to Mamak, İstanbul Road, Eskişehir Road, almost all of the underpasses we built were not on the main arteries of the city, but on the outer perimeter. I am not even counting the 801 million dollars spent on ANKAPARK… When we came to office, it was not that there was a lack of projects, there were no projects; at the same time, since it was not foreseen in the zoning plans, corridors where public transportation lines such as metro, tram and metrobus roads could be built were largely lost. As you know, many skyscrapers were built on the sides of the roads.”
4 NEW METRO LINES ON THE ROAD
Yavaş emphasized that they were not limited to the Dikimevi-Natoyolu line and announced 4 more metro projects that have received approval. Yavaş said, “M5 Kızılay-Dikmen metro line; we applied to the Strategy Department for this. We wanted it to be included in this year’s investment program. If we can have it included in this year’s investment program, God willing, we will also tender the Dikmen Metro from Kızılay to Sinpaş by issuing bonds. It is 15,2 kilometers long and has 11 stations. It covers important points such as Esat Kuğulu Park, Dikmen Valley, Öveçler, Malazgirt, Keklikpınarı, Atatürk Site and will be a 977 million dollar investment. In other words, it is an ANKAPARK money… There is an extension project for M2 Line Koru-Yaşamkent, Koru-Bağlıca. It consists of 9,36 kilometers and 5 stations. It will extend to Konutkent, Yaşamkent, Yaşamkent Center, Başkent University and Bağlıca, and its cost is 327 million dollars. This extension will also connect the military university and development living areas to the center, and will also lighten the burden on Kızılay. M4 Martyrs-Forum The extension project consists of 7,69 km, 4 stations. Sanatorium, Ufuktepe, Ovacık and Forum. 659 million dollars, the cost of this metro. It will also provide direct access to the Sanatorium Hospital and market areas, and will also solve the current depot problem. Another M6 connection line is between Çayolu-Sincan; 10 km, 5 stations, Ahi Mesut, Alsancak, Ahi Evran, Eryaman YHT, Şapka Devrimi and Devlet Mahallesi. The cost of this is 978 million dollars,” he said.
Speaking about alternative route projects planned to ease transportation, Yavaş said, “We are implementing new overpass and road widening projects at 13 different points from Yenikent to İncek, from Sincan to Gölbaşı.”
“WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE ENOUGH FOR THEM, WHAT ROAD WILL BE ENOUGH”
Yavaş, who explained the reason for the increasing traffic problem in the city with TÜİK data, also responded to criticisms in this direction. Yavaş said, “According to TÜİK, 2023 thousand new vehicles have entered traffic in Ankara in 2 years since 400. As you know, Ankara also received a lot of migration after the February 6 earthquakes. When you also consider the rental vehicles with Istanbul license plates that are not registered in Ankara traffic, this situation gradually worsens the picture. Here is the real problem of Ankara, the big problem I want to tell you. Why is this happening?”
Drawing attention to the unplanned construction in the city, Yavaş shared images of high-rise buildings in the Yaşamkent-İncek region and said:
“These were villa lands, my friends. This area was planned as villas. But somehow, by paying the price from the municipal council, they increased to 30-40 floors. When you look at these buildings that you see from the front, like a concrete cemetery, do not think that these are the current situation, the empty land, green areas, green areas that you see in between. They have all received their zoning. It was predicted that the population of Ankara will be 2025 million in 8, but we are still 6 million. But the area that is opened for development has been planned enough for a population of 18 million. If you do this, these are piled up in certain places like a concrete cemetery. They are piled up in rent areas and then what happens? How will they come to the city from here tomorrow? When other multi-storey buildings are built, what infrastructure will be enough for them, what roads will be enough. How will these be overcome? This is only because these plans based on rent are made for high-rise buildings. Mr. President often says horizontal architecture. You see the situation. You see it and therefore, on the contrary, we have implemented as many green areas as were built in the previous 25 years. In Gölbaşı We have implemented many green areas during this period, including 3,5 million square meters, one million square meters in the Atatürk Forest Farm that we will open soon, and 500 thousand square meters in Batıkent. We promised to cover it with green, not concrete. Hopefully, we are keeping that promise.”
FREE TRANSFER APPLICATION IS BEING IMPLEMENTED
Yavaş also announced an important innovation in public transportation in Ankara. Yavaş, who announced that they increased the number of metro ring lines and started a free transfer application, said, “The first transfers from metro to bus or from bus to metro will be free. Our application, which will ease the traffic outside the city, will start as of July 1. In addition, our work continues for more discounted boarding during peak hours. In this context, 44 new lines and 209 lines together with the existing ones will be provided with rings to metro stations. In this way, both bus service groups will be shortened and more services will be provided at more frequent intervals. For example, a citizen who gets on a bus from Çubuk center will be able to travel to Çayyolu with a single ticket. In addition, the fact that the transfer will be free will benefit the citizens to be directed to rail systems with integrated ring services. We are starting trials to prevent the arrival of approximately XNUMX services, especially those operating on the Bakanlıklar Kızılay, Sıhhiye, Ulus line, to the city center. For example, those coming from Keçiören will get off at Dışkapı, get on the metro and reach Ulus and Kızılay in a much shorter time. The difference for this is that "They will not pay. At the same time, the traffic there will also be relieved," he said.
“WE ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT TODAY BUT ALSO ABOUT THE FUTURE”
At the end of his speech, Yavaş emphasized that the line they laid the foundation for was of great importance not only for today's but also for the future of Ankara, and said, “We are working day and night to ensure fair, accessible and contemporary circulation, which is the right of everyone living in this city. This line, the foundation of which we will lay today, is a step taken not only for today but also for the future of Ankara, just like every other step. It is late. I just said it. All developed countries tried to build a metro a hundred and twenty years ago. There are no cars entering the city center. They can go to places they want much cheaper, much more comfortably and in a much shorter time. For this reason, we believe in science. We do what science says. Therefore, our support for public transportation will continue in the same way. And we will continue to work together for a more livable Ankara.”
