In response to the 40-rail system investment, of which Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has brought two of them to the completion stage and whose investment cost exceeds 3 billion liras, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has not hammered a single nail for the Halkapınar-Bus Terminal Metro for 10 years. According to the President's decision regarding the acceptance and implementation of the 2024 Investment Program published in the Official Gazette, 3 thousand TL was allocated from the Ministry's budget for the construction of the metro line this year.
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor called the Ministry to duty and stated that they would follow up the issue. Tunç Soyer, “If the government still insists on not building the Bus Terminal Metro, let it be left to us. Just as we built the Narlıdere metro and the Çiğli tram, we can also build the Bus Terminal metro. Just as we walk with determination saying that metro will come to Buca, we also know how to build a metro to the Bus Terminal. "The palace should not be overshadowed, we do not want any other grants," he said.
According to the President's decision regarding the acceptance and implementation of the 2024 Investment Program, 3 thousand TL was allocated from the budget of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure for the Halkapınar-Bus Terminal Metro. Thus, it became clear that no steps would be taken in the 10th year for the construction of the line, where not a single nail had been driven for 11 years. Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyer Stating that they have carried out the construction of rail system projects with investment costs exceeding 5 billion liras in the last 40 years alone, he said, “We completed the Narlıdere metro and Çiğli tram in Izmir in 5 years, and started the construction of the Buca metro. We currently have 3 projects in the project and tender stage, Karabağlar-Gaziemir metro, Örnekköy tram and Kemalpaşa metro. "The government had only one responsibility, to build the Halkapınar-Otogar metro," he said.
If he can't, leave it to us.
Emphasizing that they expect the Ministry to implement the investment it has committed to and that they will follow up on the issue, Mayor Soyer said, “If the government still insists on not building the Bus Terminal Metro, let it be left to us. Just as we built the Narlıdere metro and the Çiğli tram, we can also build the Bus Terminal metro. Just as we walk with determination saying that metro will come to Buca, we also know how to build a metro to the Bus Terminal. "The palace should not be overshadowed, we do not want any other grants," he said.
Appreciation from the people of Izmir
Expressing his thoughts on the subject, the President Tunç Soyer noted:
“We started a rail system attack from the day we started working in Izmir. We took over the 7,2 km Narlıdere metro at 12%. Despite the pandemic, economic crisis and earthquake, we invested 287 million Euros and we are opening it in February. On the other hand, we started the construction of the Çiğli tram 3 years ago. We have started trial runs on this 11 km tram line and we are opening it very soon. In other words, we started and completed this huge investment of 183 million euros in our own period. Thirdly, I would like to tell you about the project that excited me the most in these 5 years that I had the chance to serve Izmir. The name of this project is Buca Metro. Buca metro seemed like a dream when we took office. A huge investment, 13,5 km long and consisting of 11 stations. There is no support from public banks, and on the other hand, our country's economy is getting worse. We worked, we struggled, we mobilized all our resources. Using all our foreign relations and corporate reliability, we found and received 490 million Euros of foreign financing. This is a turning point for Izmir. We laid the foundation in February 2022 and started digging tunnels this month. By March, the number of tunnel diggers, which we call TBM, will increase to four. We will open the first stage in June 2026. Buca Metro is the largest investment in the history of Izmir with a cost of 765 million Euros and this is also very important, it will be the largest investment made by a municipality in Turkey. To summarize, in the last 5 years, we completed the Narlıdere metro and Çiğli tram in Izmir and started the construction of the Buca metro. We currently have 3 projects in the project and tender stage, Karabağlar-Gaziemir metro, Örnekköy tram and Kemalpaşa metro. The government had only one responsibility, to build the Halkapınar-Otogar metro. However, we regretfully learned that they have allocated a budget of 2024 thousand liras for 3. I leave the decision of the issue to the people of Izmir... As Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, I expect our Ministry to implement the project it has committed to do, and I want you to know that we will follow up on the issue. And finally I say this. If the government still insists on not building the Bus Terminal Metro, leave it to us. Just as we built the Narlıdere metro and the Çiğli tram, we can also build the Bus Terminal metro. Just as we walk with determination saying that metro will come to Buca, we also know how to build a metro to the Bus Terminal. "The palace should not be overshadowed, we do not want any other gifts."
40 billion lira from the municipality, 3 thousand lira from the Ministry
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality allocated an investment budget of 285 million Euros for the Narlıdere metro, which is near completion, and 183 million Euros, including vehicles, for the Çiğli Tramway.
Buca Metro, which is under construction, is expected to be completed at a cost of 765 million Euros, including its vehicles. Although the local government of the city has invested a total of 5 billion 1 million Euros (233 billion 40 million TL at the current exchange rate) in the rail system in the last 690 years, the central government allocated only 3 thousand TL to Izmir for the single metro line it has undertaken.